On 16 October, we celebrate World Food Day

Slovenia and other EU Member States are working closely with the FAO, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, acknowledging its key role in the fight to eradicate hunger around the world. According to this year's Global Hunger Index, access to sufficient food remains a significant issue in over 50 countries, including 36 in Africa.

Hunger affects 690 million people across the world, which amounts to 8.9% of the world population. 

In one year (from 2018 to 2019), the number increased by 10 million, while in five years (from 2014 to 2019), it increased by as much as 60 million. According to the FAO, there are many reasons for such circumstances: the weak, stagnant and poor economic situation, a lack of politics providing social protection, increasingly frequent extreme weather events that affect agriculture, and high dependency on imports and exports of agricultural products.

World Food Day is an opportunity for raising global awareness and for taking action to reduce world hunger and ensure diverse, high-quality food for all. 

Various events will be held in over 150 countries around the globe, which will contribute to reinforcing the message of World Food Day.

Events in Slovenia

In collaboration with Grm Novo mesto – Centre for Biotechnics and Tourism, the European Center for Peace and Development, and the European Declaration on Food, Technology and Nutrition Network, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food is organising a two-day conference on the topic of this year's World Food Day.

Due to the epidemiological situation, the conference will be held online.

The two-day conference will feature 35 lectures on agriculture, the food industry and nutrition, as well as two round tables: Research and development on food and Communication in providing safe and quality food in Slovenia.

Production and consumption of agricultural products in 2019