Working Together Towards a Food and Water-Secure World

World Food Day is celebrated every year on October 16. This year focuses on utilizing less water to produce more food and other essential agricultural commodities while ensuring water is distributed fairly, protecting our aquatic food systems, and leaving no one behind. 

Agriculture used 72 percent of freshwater worldwide, industries used 16 percent, and municipalities used the remaining 12 percent for households and services. 2.4 billion people live in water-stressed countries. Around 10 percent of the world’s population resides in nations with severe and extreme water stress.

Everyone plays a crucial role in ensuring access to safe water. FAO has outlined tips and actions for various stakeholders—individuals, governments and institutions, the private sector, youth, and research organizations—to build a food and water-secure world. At the individual level, we must actively protect our water resources, demonstrating responsibility and empathy in our choices and actions to ensure universal access. Governments and institutions must accelerate efforts, prioritizing integrated water resources management for agrifood and aquatic food systems.

The private sector should embrace the role of water stewardship, ensuring that water use is socially and culturally equitable, environmentally sustainable, and economically beneficial. As catalysts for change, youth can shape a better, more sustainable future for everyone. Lastly, research organizations are essential in taking action on food and water. Research and data are pivotal for a comprehensive understanding of sustainable water use, the risks posed to people, agriculture, and the environment, and monitoring progress.

Reference: 

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2023). World Food Day: Water is Life, water is food – Leave No One Behind: Get Involved, 16 October 2023. Rome. Retrieved November 16, 2023 from https://www.fao.org/3/cc7194en/cc7194en.pdf