Have you ever imagined a day without food, with nothing to munch on and nothing to fill your stomach? Have you ever imagined a day when you shiver from hunger and your whole body feels like it’s shutting down, just because there’s nothing to eat? That is how much food means to every one of us. Food is a basic need and it isn’t only humans who need it: every living being depends on it to survive. Yet millions of people around the world live in poverty, unable to put enough food on their plates and many lose their lives to hunger every year.
This is why, every 16th of October, the world marks World Food Day: to remind us that food is a basic need for everyone and to urge us to care about the people who go hungry.
The day is celebrated across the globe, especially by UN member states. Every year, a different theme focused on food is chosen. This year’s theme is “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow,” a short slogan that carries a very powerful message.
The numbers show why this message matters. Around 733 million people faced hunger in 2024, which is about 1 in 11 people worldwide. More than 800 million people also live in extreme poverty, according to the World Bank. Poverty and hunger are closely connected: when people cannot afford food or the land and tools to grow it, hunger follows. Around 9 million people are estimated to die every year from hunger-related causes. Behind each of these numbers is a real person who simply did not have enough to eat.
We humans tend to create innovations for every small problem we face, so why not for one of the most essential problems of all: hunger and poverty? Innovation doesn’t only mean advanced technology. It can also mean smarter farming, better storage and traditional knowledge such as drying, preserving and growing local crops, all made available to more people. By combining these techniques from the past with modern technology, we can create solutions that help everyone in the world have food on their plate. These solutions should waste no resources and should be sustainable, so that the same resources remain available to future generations. By thinking about the future today, we can create innovations that are truly helpful to the generations to come, for a fruitful tomorrow.
Governments also have a big role to play. They should make sure that families living in poverty, who have no proper income to feed everyone at home, receive food that is rich in nutrients and not just food that fills the stomach. Nutritious food is essential for the survival and growth of every single human being, especially children, whose bodies and minds depend on it to develop. No family should have to choose between feeding their children and meeting their other needs. Supporting them is not charity, it is a responsibility that builds a stronger and healthier society for everyone.
Ultimately, food is the foundation of every life. As we commemorate World Food Day, let us value every meal, waste less, share more and stand by those who still go to bed hungry. No one should be left with an empty plate.
Written By: –
Rtr. Sumaiya Waais
(Junior Blog Team Member 2026-27)
