The theme for the 2021 World Food Day celebration is “Our actions are our future. Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.”
#WorldFoodDay: 16 October 2021.
The future of food is in our hands.
The food we choose and the way we produce, prepare, cook and store it make us essential parts of agri-food systems. An effective and sustainable agri-food system is one in which a variety of sufficient, nutritious and safe food is available at affordable prices to everyone, and nobody is hungry or suffers from any form of malnutrition.
More than 3 billion people (almost 40 per cent of the world’s population) cannot afford a healthy diet. Paradoxially, 14 per cent of the world’s food is lost due to inadequate harvesting, handling, storage and transit; 17 per cent is wasted at consumer level.
Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.
Everyone’s effort is needed to contribute to effective and sustainable agri-food systems that do not harm the environment. For instance, we can choose local/seasonal food and reduce food waste. Accordingly, we can start by making better choices and raising awareness like the children featured in this Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) music video.
Flora IP invites children between 4 and 15 to contribute by sharing 3-minute videos that answer any or all the questions below. Videos must be sent to floraipeditors@gmail.com by 20 October 2021 with the consent of a parent or guardian and may be published on Flora IP’s website and social media pages.
Questions
- What are the top 3 meals you eat or enjoy the most? Why do you enjoy these meals?
- What are the top 3 fruits you eat or enjoy the most? Why do you enjoy these fruits?
- Please give examples of any healthy meals or snacks you know. What nutrients do they contain? Do you enjoy eating them?
- Where does your food come from? Who buys/purchases the food you eat? Is seasonal food purchased in your home?
- Are you allowed to choose the food that you eat?
- Do you grow any food? Do you have a farm, garden or plant at home?
- Do you throw away food? Why? [Is it because it is too much, you do not enjoy it, you do not have anywhere to store it or it gets spoilt?]
- When we waste food, we waste all the resources invested in growing the food. What can you or your family do to reduce food waste?
- Some people do not have enough food to eat, why do you think this happens and what can we do to make sure everyone has enough food?
- Please share your final thoughts about food.
Become a Food Hero!
You can become a Food Hero by undertaking any or all of the following activities.
Activities
Storytelling. Write a story that tells us how your dinner today got to your plate. From the choice of the meal, the market/supermarket where the ingredients were purchased to the preparation of the meal. Ask your parents for help with this.
Food Journalism. If there is a supermarket/market/food vendor near you, why not interview the sellers. Ask them how far their products have travelled. Try to trace it on a map. You could also write an imaginary interview with a vegetable, fruit or food you like. Let them describe their journey from farm to table by themselves.
Poster Creation/Drawing. Imagine the story of a vegetable, fruit or food in the form of a comic strip. You can create a poster of a food journey.
Send your completed activities with the consent of a parent or guardian to floraipeditors@gmail.com by 30 October 2021. Your submissions may be published on Flora IP’s website and social media pages.
Finally, complete your Food Hero Identification to receive a digital postcard from Flora IP.
- Your full name, age and photograph.
- Take a Food Hero pledge. Choose actions to commit to and write them down. For example, (a) Eat more seasonal fruits and vegetables, (b) Finish all your meals, (c) Do not waste meals, (d) Help with cooking and cleaning, ( e ) Research, read and ask about the nutrients derived from the food you eat, (f) Include other creative pledges.
For more on World Food Day, see the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations Activity Book.
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