October 16 World Food Day – Focusing on Family Farming

World Food Day (WFD) is a yearly celebration of founding the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) on the 16th of October, 1945. FAO has been adopting themes since 1981 that serve as an opportunity to promote food security and agricultural development combating hunger and poverty. This is participated by different organizations worldwide sharing the same initiatives.

For 2014, FAO chose as its theme, “Family Farming: Feeding the World, Caring for the Earth,” highlighting the significant role of family farming in eradicating hunger and poverty, providing food security and nutrition, improving livelihoods, managing natural resources, protecting the environment, and achieving sustainable development, in particular in rural areas.

The Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC), advocating food security as one of its goals, has selected as our 2014 WFD theme, Gearing Towards a More Sustainable Food System through Family Farming. ANGOC recognizes the importance and practice of family farming in achieving a sustainable food system especially among rural communities. With what family farming can contribute to food security, in improving livelihoods to farmers, and in protecting the environment; it encompasses the social, economic, and environmental values a community needs that a sustainable food system aspires.