October 16 is World Food Day World Food Day, celebrated in more…

October 16 is World Food Day World Food Day, celebrated in more than 150 countries today, reminds us of the importance of feeding every member of society-regardless of...

October 16 is World Food Day

World Food Day, celebrated in more than 150 countries today, reminds us of the importance of feeding every member of society-regardless of where he or she lives.    

It is particularly fitting that this year’s theme for World Food Day focuses on agricultural co-operatives both because we are about to conclude the UN’s International Year of Co-operatives (IYC) and because it is those agricultural co-operatives that can mean the difference between success and failure of the world’s farmers to earn a decent living and meet global food needs.

We believe that food production is not some distant operation but one that challenges us in our own countries, in our own fields.  Farmers in our own communities are working every day on our behalf.  And it is through agricultural co-operatives that small farmers – so critical to meeting our food needs – are able to develop the safeguards and receive the education and support that helps individuals, their families and their local agricultural communities. The smallholder farmers are the bedrock of good quality food production underscoring that communities can in many areas of the world provide adequate food for their own populations.

Co-operatives from around the world are working to combat food insecurity and fight poverty.

Read the full statement here.

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