Progress Achieved in Reducing World’s Hungry, But Not Nearly Enough, Says

Secretary-General at Commemoration, Calling for Food Security for All

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General’s remarks at the commemoration of World Food Day, today, 4 November, in New York:

First of all, I would like to thank the United Nations choir for the beautiful songs.  When we last gathered to mark World Food Day, the number of hungry people had reached more than 1 billion — an unprecedented number.  Since then, the number has fallen.  That is progress, but not nearly enough.  There are still 925 million chronically undernourished people in our world.  They are denied this basic human need — this fundamental right.

In a world of plenty, our food systems are failing the most vulnerable.  We must fix them in order to reach the Millennium Development Goal of reducing hunger and poverty by half.  Achieving that will lift up whole societies and help us achieve all of the other goals.

More and more Governments, civil society groups, businesses and other partners are joining forces to combat hunger.  They are, as the theme of this year’s observance puts it, “United Against Hunger”, working together to provide more stable food supplies, greater access, and better nutrition.  This comprehensive approach covers all the bases, from the farmer’s crop to the child’s school lunch, from rushing food assistance to people caught in emergencies to helping children during the critical first two years of life.

My High-Level Task Force on Global Food Security is championing this approach.  The Committee on World Food Security was reformed over the past year to give greater voice to our partners.  As a result, farmers’ organizations, research bodies and civil society groups are not just observers on the Committee — they are active participants.  The Committee is building a strategy so that we stay united and effective in the fight against hunger.

New movements are backing us with social networks that engage the public, like the Billion Hungry campaign and the Thousand Days movement.  Tomorrow, senior United Nations leaders will gather for the Chief Executives Board meeting.  Dr. [Jacques] Diouf [Director-General, Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)] will update us on the volatility of agriculture markets.  Price upswings are expected to hit low-income countries hardest, posing a major threat to food security.  Poor consumers will suffer most. 

I will work to ensure that the entire United Nations system responds to these emerging developments, as well as long-term concerns on food security.  By coming together, we can mark each World Food Day on a planet with fewer and fewer hungry people until we achieve food and nutrition security for all.

Thank you very much.

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For information media • not an official record