World Food Day 2019
Our food systems are in crisis and unless we work together and take urgent actions, we are at risk of a continued rise in rates of hunger, obesity and diet-related chronic diseases. To fix our food systems, we need to work together and develop holistic and systemic solutions.
Brussels, 16th October 2019 - This year at World Food Day, EIT Food echoes the call for action across sectors to make healthy and sustainable diets affordable and accessible to everyone. At the same time, it calls on everyone to start thinking about what we eat.
In Europe, every year, around 900,000 people lose their lives due to poor nutrition and diet-related chronic diseases, while more than 50% of adults and 25% of school-age children and adolescents are already overweight. At the same time, 7 million people in Europe do not have access to enough food while we waste one-third of our food.
Our food production and consumption models are in crisis and a holistic approach is needed to deliver systemic solutions that are fundamental to tackle the challenges we are facing. Optimal nutrition is essential to successfully achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals and we need to eradicate all forms of malnutrition. Since 2018, EIT Food, together with its partners, have been developing much needed solutions through innovation, education, public engagement and by supporting new businesses for healthier and more sustainable food systems.
Today, EIT Food is organising the World Food Day gathering in Brussels with the EU Institutions and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), with the participation of food system and bioeconomy experts, agrifood industry and university representatives, researchers and civil society organisations. Speaking at the occasion, EIT Food’s CEO, Dr. Andy Zynga stated that: “To transform the food systems, all parties that are involved need to change. This means changing the way that we innovate, produce and consume, but also changing the perceptions and approach to how we value our food as a society.”
For inquiries, please contact Barbaros Corekoglu