World Food Day 2023: Water’s vital role in nourishment and sustainability

Team Udayavani, Oct 16, 2023, 10:05 AM IST

Every year on October 16, the global community observes World Food Day, highlighting the critical issues of hunger, food security, and the crucial importance of proper nutrition.

A Glimpse into World Food Day’s History and Significance in 2023

Initially established in 1945 to commemorate the founding of the FAO, World Food Day has evolved into a global platform for raising awareness about hunger, malnutrition, sustainability, and food production.

It now encompasses a wide range of concerns related to food systems and nutrition. In 2021, the United Nations Secretary-General convened the inaugural Food Systems Summit, demonstrating a strong commitment to addressing these complex challenges.

World Food Day is celebrated across 150 countries in up to 50 languages, making it one of the most widely observed events on the UN calendar.

Through hundreds of events and outreach activities, governments, businesses, communities, and individuals come together to promote awareness of hunger and advocate for a sustainable future for food, people, and the planet.

Theme for 2023: Water’s Vital Role 

This year’s World Food Day theme, ‘Water is Life, Water is Food. Leave No One Behind,’ resonates deeply with the pressing concern of water’s role in sustaining life and ensuring our food sources.

Water is integral to our ability to produce and access food, making it the lifeblood of our planet.

The theme urges us to manage this precious resource wisely, especially amidst challenges like rapid population growth, urbanization, and the looming threat of climate change, which all put water accessibility at risk.

Water: The Essence of Life and Food

Life on Earth wouldn’t be possible without water. Covering the majority of the planet’s surface and constituting over 50% of our bodies, water plays a pivotal role in food production and sustains livelihoods.

However, this invaluable resource is not infinite, and it’s imperative that we stop taking it for granted. The way we eat and how our food is produced directly impact water resources.

Currently, 2.4 billion people reside in water-stressed countries, with many being smallholder farmers, particularly women, Indigenous Peoples, migrants, and refugees.

Similarly, approximately 600 million people, who rely partly on aquatic food systems for their livelihoods, face the consequences of pollution, ecosystem degradation, unsustainable practices, and climate change.

To make matters worse, the competition for this invaluable resource is escalating, exacerbating conflicts.

The Challenge of Water Stress and Scarcity

Rapid population growth, urbanization, economic development, and climate change are increasingly straining the world’s water resources.

According to FAO, freshwater availability per person has declined by 20% in recent decades, and both water quality and quantity are rapidly deteriorating due to decades of mismanagement and pollution.

This places us at risk of depleting this precious resource beyond recovery.

Managing Water Wisely: A Collective Responsibility

Considering these realities, it’s high time we adopt more efficient water management practices. At the same time, we must produce more food with less water, ensure equitable distribution, preserve aquatic food systems, and ensure that no one is left behind.

We must all cease taking water for granted and improve our daily water usage habits. Our food choices and production methods significantly influence water consumption.

Choosing local, seasonal, and fresh foods, reducing food waste, and preventing water pollution are impactful steps we can all take.

Safeguarding Water for a Sustainable Future

Preserving and safeguarding these aquatic ecosystems and the species they support is not merely a responsibility but a necessity for the well-being of our planet and its inhabitants.

On this World Food Day, let us remember the intrinsic link between water, food, and sustainable living. Together, we can take action for the future of food, people, and the planet.