World Food Day was established in 1979 by the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to coincide with the date of the founding of FAO in 1945. It estimated that 923 million people in the world today are suffering from undernourishment.

While many in the West are over-consuming, almost a billion people worldwide are not able to fulfill their basic nutritive needs. On this day we should all reflect on problems related to food and encourage solidarity in our struggle against hunger. The current extent of food security across the world was highlighted in a report by FAO released in 2006, which said that 40 countries were facing food emergencies and required external assistance.

In 1980, the General Assembly endorsed observance of World Food Day in consideration of the fact that "food is a requisite for human survival and well-being and a fundamental human necessity". Since 1981, World Food Day has adopted a different theme each year, highlighting areas needing action and providing a common focus.

Food is a human right, not a commodity!