Food security - key challenge in modern world

'World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy' would be the theme of World Food Day 2008 which would be observed on October 16.

The annual event is organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on October 16, the day on which the FAO was founded in Quebec City, Canada in 1945. Since then, it has been observed in more than 150 countries.

The official ceremony will be held at the FAO Headquarters in Rome on October 16 with member countries, civil society and other organisations participating. The current high food prices and the increasing number of people risking hunger because of this will be the main concern at this event.

These issues have already been discussed at the high level Conference on World Food Security involving the UN Secretary General, 181 governments and 41 heads of state at the FAO headquarters some time ago.

As part of the World Food Day activities for the year, the FAO will host a Committee on World Food Security from October 14-17, to assess the current global food situation and future implications. Many other special events will be organised in connection with this day.

Severe food insecurity affects at least one-seventh of the world's human population. Around the world, 850 million people remain hungry and undernourished while 200 million children below the age of five suffer from symptoms of acute (severe) malnourishment.

Heightening awareness about this food problem and strengthening cooperation in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty are the aims of World Food Day.