Let’s Step Up Fight against Hunger, Malnutrition, Says Secretary-General, in Message for World Food Day

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message on World Food Day, observed 16 October:

Something is very wrong with a world in which hunger and malnutrition are a fact of life for billions of children, women and men.

On World Food Day, we remind ourselves of the 733 million people who are short of food because of conflict, marginalization, climate change, poverty and economic downturns — including those who face the threat of manmade famine in Gaza and Sudan; or the 2.8 billion people who cannot afford a healthy diet — including those who are overweight as global obesity rates soar.

The good news is that a zero-hunger world is possible.  The 2021 Food Systems Summit set us on a course to tackle the inefficiencies and inequities built into our food systems.

Food systems need a massive transformation, with the contributions of businesses, academics, research institutions and civil society, to become more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable.

Governments must work with all partners to incentivize the production and sale of healthy, nutritious food at affordable prices.

On World Food Day, let’s step up the fight against hunger and malnutrition.  Let’s take action to uphold the right to food for a better life and a better future.