On World Food Day, UN lauds role of family farmers in ending global hunger | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)

With over 800 million people worldwide still lacking access to healthy, nutritious food, family farmers must play an increasingly vital role in the global war on hunger, United Nations officials affirmed today, adding that the strong participation of the world’s family farmers can help “turn the tide” in shaping a new agenda for a sustainable future.

“Family farmers are key to unlocking global progress,” declared Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today in his message marking the annual observance of World Food Day.

“They run the vast majority of farms in the world. They preserve natural resources and agro-biodiversity. They are the cornerstone of inclusive and sustainable agriculture and food systems.”

The theme of this year’s Day, which is celebrated on 16 October in honor of the date of the founding of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1945, is Family Farming: Feeding the world, caring for the Earth, and has the stated goal of drawing attention to the world’s 500 million smallholder farmers in an effort to help eradicate poverty and help safeguard the environment.

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