16 October is World Food Day, established by FAO member countries in November 1979 to turn the spotlight on food issues and to fight hunger and malnutrition.

The official World Food Day ceremony is taking place today at FAO headquarters in Rome.

On this occasion, many personalities have joined and will join FAO Director-General QU Dongyu. San Marino Permanent Representation to FAO led by Ambassador Daniela Rotondaro will participate, as usual, on behalf of the Government of the Republic.

In the morning, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, IFAD President Gilbert F. Houngbo and WFP Executive Director David M. Beasley, among others, delivered a speech, and the speeches of the Holy Father and of the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella were delivered by their respective accredited diplomats.

The motto chosen for this year is “Our actions are our future: Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life”. The event focuses on the transformation of agri-food systems to ensure that all citizens of the world can eat sufficiently, cheaply, safely and have an active and healthy lifestyle.

FAO celebrates World Food Day at the end of the week-long Plenary Session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), in which San Marino Permanent Representation took an active part.

CFS is an international and intergovernmental platform where all parties work together in a coordinated manner towards food safety and better nutrition for all. CFS will have the task of implementing what was adopted at the Food Systems Summit held last September at the UN headquarters in New York. Noteworthy is that during the week, CFS adopted the Voluntary Guidelines on Gender Equality (dedicated to women and girls) in the context of nutrition and food safety.

Yesterday, by secret ballot, this Committee elected Spanish Ambassador Gabriel Ferrero as its new Chairman.

Around the world, a series of events dedicated to food safety were organised to celebrate World Food Day, some of which started well in advance.

This year’s World Food Day will also be the first to take place at EXPO Dubai.

Many young people started the celebrations during the week before the World Food Day. In this regard, worth mentioning is the Junior World Food Forum, with several initiatives, such as the Youth Action Track and Innovation Labs, in which youth groups, influencers, academic institutions, non-profit organisations and governments promoted awareness of the transformation of agri-food systems through youth-led actions. 

Tomorrow, in the Appia Antica Park, the G20 Green Garden will invite people to reflect on the future of our planet, celebrating biodiversity, nature and Rome's ancient heritage, and calling for global solidarity to create a sustainable future for all.

San Marino, 15 October 2021