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‘Biodiversity for Food Security’ to be theme of this year’s UN World Food Day

‘Biodiversity for Food Security’ to be theme of this year’s UN World Food Day

Potato varieties on display in Peru
With biodiversity providing the key element for feeding some 800 million malnourished people in developing countries, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced today that “Biodiversity for Food Security” would be the theme of this year’s World Food Day.

With biodiversity providing the key element for feeding some 800 million malnourished people in developing countries, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced today that “Biodiversity for Food Security” would be the theme of this year’s World Food Day.

“Biodiversity, essential for agriculture and food production, is threatened by urbanization, deforestation, pollution and the conversion of wetlands,” FAO said.

“This year’s World Food Day/TeleFood campaign will emphasize the importance of biodiversity for agriculture, food security and rural livelihoods, and especially for those populations living in marginal and harsh environments,” it added.

World Food Day, regularly observed in about 150 countries on 16 October, marks the founding of FAO in 1945.

About three-quarters of the genetic diversity found in agricultural crops have been lost over the last century, and of 6,300 animal breeds 1,350 are endangered or already extinct, giving rise for concern, FAO said. A dozen species of animals provide 90 per cent of the animal protein consumed globally and just four crop species provide half of plant-based calories in the human diet, it noted.

“Global efforts to conserve plants and animals in gene banks are vital,” it said. “But it is also important to maintain biodiversity on farms and in nature, where it can evolve and adapt to changing conditions or competition from other species.”