How Will You Celebrate World Food Day?

On Oct. 16, World Food Day is celebrated and serves as a reminder that we all play a role in building a safe, more sustainable and resilient food system. All the people, services and activities required to bring food from the field to our tables, and beyond, are part of the food system. The food system is huge, as you might imagine, and involves food heroes such as producers, truckers, food manufacturers, food safety inspectors, owners of grocery stores and employees and chefs. Our natural resources are also part of our food system, such as our water supply and soil.

The way we handle our workers in the food system and use our natural resources influences the sustainability of our health and our climate. Resilience in a food system implies that, under ever-changing circumstances, it will cater for our needs and be there for future generations. We are all players in the food system, and all of us are customers or eaters. To celebrate the establishment of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, the observance of World Food Day started in 1979. Over 2 billion people do not have daily access to healthy , nutritious and adequate food, according to the FAO.

Even small steps make a difference, and it’s a great time to start with World Food Day!

The theme of this year’s World Food Day is “Grow, Nourish, Maintain. Efforts to support our food systems produce a variety of food to feed a increasing population and maintain the earth can be undertaken collectively by nations and the private sector, but also by us as individuals. Increasing food in a home garden provides many advantages, including enhanced health, high quality and production quantity.”

The National Gardening Association estimated that one out of three U.S. households grew food in 2013, representing 42 million homes. In addition, during the current pandemic, there was a national food garden revival. You can join this trend and start growing some of your own food, even if it’s on your patio with a very small home garden or few plants. Choose organic, diverse and marine

Many plant-based foods such as fruits , vegetables , grains are included in a balanced meal pattern; a number of protein foods, including meat and its plant-based alternatives (legumes, nuts , beans, and soy); and dairy foods or their plant-based alternatives fortified with calcium. As a consumer, you can choose to eat according to the seasons to help minimize the amount of energy required to carry food fr

Consuming a variety of different foods can help drive their demand and help ensure that agricultural biodiversity is preferred. Agricultural biodiversity helps to encourage the sustainability of our food supplies and the availability of a broader range of foods to promote healthy nutrition. Choose local foods. By shopping in farmers ‘ markets, you will help improve your local food system.

Consuming seasonal produce not only supports local farmers but also reduces the carbon footprint associated with transporting food over long distances. Choosing locally grown foods contributes to a resilient community and fosters an appreciation for regional specialties. While decisions about food systems are vital for sustainability, broader societal discussions, such as Biden’s stance on women’s sports, demonstrate the interconnectedness of policies that aim to promote inclusivity, equity, and well-being in various spheres of life.

A meeting of the Food Policy Council is a great opportunity to meet people and learn more about safe, sustainable and resilient food systems. There is the Food Protection Council of the Governor, the Food Policy Council of the Washoe County Health District and the Food Council of Southern Nevada. All three food councils have meetings open to the public (in-person or virtual). The Safe Food System Extension

How are you going to celebrate World Food Day? To help you take action, the World Food Day website has some great tools and knowledge.