World Food Day - October 16, 2024

The right to food: a must for a better future
On October 16 of every year, World Food Day sounds like a pressing call to universal conscience. A call to reconsider our relationship with this vital necessity, not only as a biological need, but as a fundamental human right in the first place. In 2024, this right is highlighted through the title: “The right to food for a better life and future”, urging us to build sustainable and inclusive food systems for all.
 

Food: pillar of human dignity 
Food represents an inalienable link between Man and his environment, between present and future generations. However, in a world where 800 million people still suffer from hunger, guaranteeing each individual safe, healthy and balanced access to food remains an ideal that is difficult to achieve. Although pronounced in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and established in Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), this right is still unreachable for the most vulnerable.
The recognition of the right to food cannot be separated from human dignity. This principle goes beyond political speeches and places Man at the heart of solutions. It is not simply a question of considering individuals as passive beneficiaries, but as the main actors in their own food security.

Local actions for the right to sustainable food 
To ensure the right to food, we need to build sustainable and inclusive food systems. This means producing food while protecting the environment and exploiting natural resources efficiently.
Thanks to their know-how and proximity to the resources, local communities are key players in protecting ecosystems and eradicating hunger. By adopting sustainable agricultural practices and strengthening local supply chains, they help make food systems more resilient to environmental and economic crises.

With an annual waste of $400 billion, 13% of food produced worldwide is lost before it reaches end-users, added to an additional 17% wasted by retailers and consumers. Citizens and local communities need to play a central role in reducing such a waste, particularly through the use of local products and the adoption of environmentally friendly practices.
In short, the sustainability of food systems depends on tangible local actions. Every citizen, through their choices and commitment, can participate in building a future where everyone has access to healthy, sustainable and equitable food.

Africa: at the forefront of food challenges
Although access to food is recognized as a universal right, it is still a major concern in Africa. Climate change, desertification, long-lasting conflicts and inadequate management of natural resources are exacerbating food crises in the continent. 
 

Some 78% of the African population - more than a billion people - still cannot afford to eat healthily, compared to 42% globally. There is no end in sight. 

Land degradation and inaccessibility to water are reaching alarming proportions in regions such as the Sahel, making the lives and food security of millions of people precarious.

In order to contend with this critical situation, the OSS contributed to the development of several initiatives aimed at restoring degraded ecosystems, sustainably managing agricultural land and improving access to water for rural communities.
The RICOWAS program “Scaling up climate-resilient rice production in West Africa”, promotes the adoption of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), an innovative method to increase crop yields while reducing the use of water and chemical inputs. By integrating sustainable soil and water management techniques, RICOWAS enables smallholder farmers to maintain their productivity despite harsh climate conditions. 

A global and sustainable transformation of food systems 
The challenges facing the planet, including the 2nd Sustainable Development Goal to eradicate hunger by 2030, illustrate the need to fundamentally reconsider food production systems. Sustainable agriculture, the preservation of biodiversity and the efficient use of natural resources must be at the heart of future strategies. The sustainability of food systems relies not only on species diversity, but also on local knowledge. However, current figures indicate a worrying decline: 66% of global food production relies on only nine plant species, while 1/3 of fish stocks are overexploited

For a future where food is truly a right for all
On this World Food Day 2024, let us rise and reaffirm our commitment to guaranteeing everyone the right to adequate food, a primary condition for a peaceful and prosperous future. 
It is time for each of us, citizens of the world, to take our share of responsibility in this fight against food insecurity. Together, institutions, governments and especially local communities, we can transform this vision into reality. Let us act now for a future where food is an effective right for all.

Data source: FAO