Flourish Health & Wellbeing eMag - Latest Edition - Flipbook - Page 21
What Is World Food Day?
Founded in 1945 by the UN’s Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Food Day
is nearly 80 years old. Each year highlights a
theme—from reducing food waste to protecting
resources—but the goal remains constant: reliable
access to nutritious food for everyone.
It might sound like a huge challenge, but change
is possible. Through small daily actions, each of
us can contribute. At Converge, your EAP
provider, our 360Me Nutrition dietitians are here
to guide you.
Why Should We Care?
Despite advances in farming, technology, and
food science, hunger persists.
780+ million people go to bed hungry every
night.
1 in 3 people worldwide lack regular access
to safe, nutritious food.
Over 1 billion tonnes of food are wasted
annually—enough to feed billions.
In Australia, malnutrition is a major public health
issue, particularly among older people. Around
50% of older Australians in aged care or the
community are malnourished or at risk.
It’s not only about hunger but food quality.
Cheap, processed foods high in sugar, fat, and
salt dominate, while fresh, whole foods remain
harder to access in low-income or remote
communities. This fuels a double burden of
malnutrition: undernutrition alongside obesity.
Our Food Systems Under Pressure
Food systems—the way we grow, produce,
process, and distribute food—face mounting
challenges:
Climate change disrupting farming through
floods, droughts, and fires
Rising food costs
Loss of biodiversity and soil degradation
Conflict and supply chain issues
Our current approach is unsustainable. World
Food Day calls us to feed people better, in ways
that are fair, healthy, and environmentally
responsible.
How Can We Help?
Eat More Sustainably
Include plant-based meals each week
Buy seasonal, local produce
Shop at farmers markets or support small
businesses
Use every part of vegetables (yes, broccoli
stalks are delicious!)
Choose
