Our planet produces enough food to feed each and every person all over the world—Yet, globally, one in nine people still suffer from chronic hunger.
While the malnourished wither and waste away starving, those with regular access to food, sleeping on full bellies, are wasting in a completely different way.
A shocking 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted annually, thrown into the mouth of a grinding garbage disposal, rather than the mouth of a malnourished person dying from hunger.
However, this year, on World Food Day, you have the opportunity to help eradicate this atrocity. You have the opportunity to help put an end to the disturbing and despairing reality of world hunger.
First of All, What is the Definition of Food Insecurity?
According to Oxford Languages, the definition of food insecurity is “the condition of not having access to sufficient food, or food of an adequate quality, to meet one's basic needs.”
This means that food insecurity isn’t just about the quantity of food that someone has access to, but also the quality of the food that is available to them.
For example, someone who is only financially able to afford cheap junk foods for their family like crisps, candies, and fast food is also considered to be a person affected by food insecurity.
Even if they are technically consuming enough calories to sustain their bodies by eating foods high in sugar, fat, and salt, they are still considered malnourished, as they are not getting the proper nutrients necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle and can’t afford to do so.
Food insecurity has devastating effects on the body such as the following:
- Stunted growth in children
- Micronutrient deficiencies
- Higher likelihood of poor oral health
- Increased risk for infectious diseases
- Increased risk of injury
- Higher likelihood of suffering from multiple chronic health conditions such as obesity, heart disease, depression, anxiety, arthritis, chronic pain, and much more
When is World Food Day?
World Food Day is on 16 October every year.
This year, in 2023, World Food Day falls on a Monday.
What is World Food Day?
Food is the fuel that sustains us and nourishes our bodies, allowing us to live and function as human beings were designed to by nature—It is not a privilege or a luxury.
It’s a necessity. It is the literal difference between life and death.
Having access to food is a basic human right that we are all entitled to, and no one in the world deserves to starve or to be stuck in a situation where their health is compromised, forced to suffer the devastating health effects from the pain and desperation that comes with chronic hunger.
World Food Day, established by the Food and Agriculture Organisation in 1945, is a day designed to celebrate, raise awareness, and recognise the essential role that food plays in our lives and overall health and well-being.
However, most importantly, it is also a day that serves as a sad reminder that while many of us are fortunate enough to satiate our hunger with regular access to nutritious food, not everyone in the world is, with 1 in 9 people globally who will go to sleep tonight with an empty, growling belly begging to be filled with food.
By raising awareness on the issue of world hunger, and reflecting on why this problem persists situationally, systematically, and societally, we can address the sources of the issue and search for appropriate solutions to put an end to world hunger and food insecurity once and for all.
What is the World Food Day 2023 Theme?
The 2023 World Food Day theme this year revolves around the following concept:
“Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind.”
Water stands as an indispensable element for sustaining life on our planet, acting as a dynamic force that drives human societies, economies, and the natural world—It serves as the very foundation of our food production.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, water constitutes more than half of our physical composition and spans across approximately 71% of the Earth's surface.
However, surprisingly, merely 2.5% of this water is freshwater, suitable for consumption, agriculture, and most industrial applications.
Of the 2.5 % of freshwater that we have access to, agriculture alone accounts for 72% of the total global freshwater withdrawals, but like any other finite natural resource, freshwater is not inexhaustible.
Our world is currently witnessing the culmination of challenges that threaten the very foundations of our water resources. Factors such as rapid population growth, urbanisation, economic expansion, and climate change are exerting escalating pressure on the planet's water sources.
Concurrently, the available freshwater per capita has dwindled by 20% in recent decades, with water accessibility and quality deteriorating rapidly due to decades of mismanagement, excessive groundwater extraction, pollution, and the impacts of climate change that are strengthening the scarcity of water for people all over the world.
There's a palpable risk that we may stretch this invaluable resource to a point of no return.
However, today, there is still time to turn the tides and preserve the precious water that is trickling through our fingers.
By being more aware of the way that we are utilising our water and consciously cutting back on both water and food waste, we can take action to save our dwindling source of life before it’s too late.
No Food, No Human Rights—5 Ways That You Can Help Put an End to World Hunger
1. Raise Awareness on Global Food Shortages
Sure, most everyone knows that world hunger exists, but not many realise the extent of it or that it can be found literally anywhere and everywhere.
It is not an issue that only exists in other countries or in far-away places across the sea—It lurks within your own communities.
Educate yourself and others about the root causes of hunger and its consequences.
Sharing this information on social media and in your community can help raise awareness and mobilise the support and action needed to finally put an end to food insecurity across the globe.
2. Donate Money to a Charity Fighting to End World Hunger
There are plenty of charities out there that are doing honourable work to fight world hunger, and there are several ways that you can donate money to these organisations.
You can make a one-time online donation through the charity's website, set up a monthly or annual donation to provide ongoing support, contribute through mobile apps, participate in fundraising events, or even donate through workplace giving programs if your employer offers such initiatives.
Donating to reputable organisations focused on ending world hunger is a simple yet impactful way to make a difference.
3. Volunteer at a Local Soup Kitchen
When we think about “the hungry,” we often only think about distant people living in developing countries, but the reality is that hunger can be found everywhere—from the streets of your city to within your next-door neighbour’s home who is struggling to make ends meet.
Help your community by offering your time and attention to local food banks, soup kitchens, or organisations that work to alleviate hunger in your community.
Your volunteer work can make a significant impact on a more local level and directly witnessing the difference that you are making in the lives of those who are struggling or starving is an extremely humbling and rewarding experience.
4. Organise a Food Drive or Fundraise
You don’t necessarily have to make a donation to a charity to make a difference.
Instead, you can raise the money yourself by organising a food drive or fundraiser.
Organising a food drive or fundraising event is a powerful way to make a positive impact on your community. You can collaborate with local charities or food banks to collect non-perishable food items or raise money to support those in need.
When developing fundraisers, you have plenty of room for fun, creativity, and imagination. For example, some exciting fundraiser events that you can organise include fun runs, concerts, bake sales, online crowdfunding campaigns, carnivals, and everything in between.
By taking the initiative to organise such efforts, you not only raise essential resources but also inspire a sense of unity and compassion in your community, working together to address food insecurity and make a meaningful difference.
5. Appreciate the Food You Have—Cut Back on Food and Water Waste
The act of eating food can be a pleasurable and delicious experience, but despite this, it is important that you don’t lose sight of its primary purpose—to nourish our bodies and fuel us for the day.
You are not simply cleaning out your refrigerator by getting rid of food that has expired. You are tossing food that could have fed another hungry mouth into the bin and wasting it.
Appreciating the food you have and reducing waste starts with mindful meal planning and portion control to ensure you consume what you serve. Avoid buying an excess of food that will just end up in the garbage disposal.
It is also important to store food properly to prolong its freshness, be conscious of expiration dates, be conscious of expiration dates, prioritise eating food nearing its expiry, and seek out creative ways to reuse and consume all of your leftovers.
Similarly, reducing water waste means using water-saving appliances, fixing leaks promptly, cutting back on the time you spend in the shower, and not letting taps run unnecessarily while cooking or cleaning.
Just these small changes can foster gratitude for the abundance of food and water we often take for granted while contributing to a more sustainable and responsible lifestyle.