The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is calling on countries to address food and agriculture in their climate action plans and invest more in rural development under the theme, “Climate is changing. Food and agriculture must too.”
World Food Day was first celebrated in 1979 and according to FAO, one of the biggest issues related to climate change is food security.
The world’s poorest, many of whom are farmers, fishermen and pastoralists are hardest hit by rising temperatures and an increasing frequency in weather-related disasters.
According to FAO, by strengthening the resilience of smallholder farmers, we can guarantee food security for the planet’s increasingly hungry global population, while also reducing carbon emissions.
Events to look out for:
- FoodForward SA in partnership with Checkers, will be holding a food drive at Blue Route shopping mall in Cape Town and the Mall of Africa in Johannesburg from 13 to 16 October. Visit www.foodbanksa.org
- A symbolic walk against hunger on Friday 14 October at Nkume Sports Field in uMlalazi Local Municipality, Eshowe in KZN, will be hosted by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and FAO.
- The launch of a rooftop vegetable garden project on Friday 14 October at 3 Kotze Street, Hillbrow, Johannesburg.
- The Institute of Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) and the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security (CoE-FS) researchers will share findings of their recent working paper on the challenges posed in achieving food and nutrition security in South Africa, on Tuesday 18 October at The River Club, Observatory, Cape Town. Visit www.foodsecurity.ac.za
