Need to know: 10 key facts about World Food Day

By United Nations & the Food and Agriculture Organization

A sustainable agri-food system is one in which a variety of sufficient, nutritious and safe foods is available at an affordable price to everyone, and nobody is hungry or suffers from any form of malnutrition. The shelves are stocked at the local market or food store, but less food is wasted and the food supply chain is more resilient to shocks such as extreme weather, price spikes or pandemics, all while limiting, rather than worsening, environmental degradation or climate change.

In fact, sustainable agri-food systems deliver food security and nutrition for all, without compromising the economic, social and environmental bases, for generations to come. They lead to better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all.

World Food Day takes place on October 16 , and is one of the most celebrated days of the UN calendar, with hundreds of events and outreach activities taking place across 150 countries. See below for 10 key facts around global food issues.

• More than 3 billion people (almost 40 percent of the world’s population) cannot afford a healthy diet.
• Almost 2 billion people are overweight or obese due to a poor diet and sedentary lifestyle.
• Related healthcare costs could exceed US$1.3 trillion by 2030.
• The world’s agri-food systems currently employ 1 billion people, more than any other sector.
• Smallholder farmers produce more than 33 percent of the world’s food.
• The world’s food systems currently account for more than 33 percent of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.
• Approximately 14 percent of food produced for human consumption is lost each year before it reaches the wholesale market, and another 17 percent is wasted at consumer level.
• 10 percent of people are affected by unsafe food supplies contaminated by bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances.
• Today, just nine plant species account for 66 percent of total crop production, despite the fact that there are at least 30, 000 edible plants.
• Our future food systems need to provide affordable and healthy diets for all and decent livelihoods for food system workers, while preserving natural resources and tackling challenges such as climate change.