The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was founded in 1943 at Hot Springs (USA) during the UN Conference on Food and Agriculture, and it was formally instituted during the First Session of the FAO Conference, held in Quebec, Canada, in 1945. In doing so they took an important step forward in man's perpetual struggle against hunger and malnutrition.

FAO marks World Food Day each year on 16 October, the day on which the Organization was founded in 1945.

World Food Day was first held on 16 Oct 1981.

World Food Day

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to raise public awarenessfocus attention on food securitydisseminate informationmobilize public opinion and funds in favor of the global fight

against hunger

Mandate and objectives

Core objectives:

United Nations General Assembly Resolution: 35/70

World Food Day

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www.fao.org/world-food-day 3

Family Farming is the focus of World Food Day 2014.

The World Food Day theme Family Farming: “Feeding the world, caring for the earth” has been chosen to stress the vast potential family farmers have to eradicate hunger and preserve natural resources.

Interest in family farming is reflected in the decision of the UN General Assembly to designate 2014 “International Year of Family Farming.”

34th World Food Day Observance

What is family farming?Family farming includes all family-based agricultural activities, and it is linked to several areas of the rural development.

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Family farming is a means of organizing agricultural, forestry, fisheries, pastoral and aquaculture production which is managed and operated by a family and predominantly reliant on family labour, including both women’s and men’s.

Why is family farming important?

Family farming has an important socio-economic, environmental and cultural role.

• Family and small-scale farming are inextricably linked to world food security.

• Family farming preserves traditional food products, while contributing to a balanced diet and safeguarding the world’s agro-biodiversity and the sustainable use of natural resources.

• Family farming represents an opportunity to boost local economies, especially when combined with specific policies aimed at social protection and well-being of communities.

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World Food Day focus for 2014 on the same theme of the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF)

Family Farming: “Feeding the world, caring for the earth”

• To help recognize and support the contribution of family farming and small holder farming in eradicating hunger, reducing rural poverty, achieving food security through sustainable production and sustainable development of rural areas.

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• To promote broad discussion at the national, regional and global levels to Family Farmers and smallholders.

• To foster dialogue and promote partnerships among relevant stakeholders including family farmers’ organizations, civil society organizations, research centers and private sector representatives.

Main messages

• Family Farming is the predominant form of agriculture both in developed and developing countries

• Family farmers are an important part of the solution for a world free from poverty and hunger

• Family Farmers can deploy quickly their productivity potential when the appropriate policy environment is effectively put in place. Put in place legal frameworks as well as pro-family farming policies is the ultimate goal of the IYFF.

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Website (www.fao.org/world-food-day)

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WORLD FOOD DAYWORLD FOOD DAY IS OBSERVED IN MORE THANIS OBSERVED IN MORE THAN

150 COUNTRIES150 COUNTRIES

WORLD FOOD DAYWORLD FOOD DAY IS OBSERVED IN MORE THANIS OBSERVED IN MORE THAN

150 COUNTRIES150 COUNTRIES

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Target audiences

World Food Day

Governments, parliaments, local entities, UN system, CSOs/NGOs, private sector, media, universities/institutes/academies, youth, schools, general public.

Main types of Word Food Day eventsMain types of Word Food Day events Ceremonies at presidential, ministerial, local government, and / or UN levels;

roundtables, workshops, seminars, symposia, conferences, congress, forums,

meetings, courses, colloquia, panels, presentations, workshops, debates,

lectures;

thematic displays and book exhibitions, art exhibitions;

field visits to FAO projects and to farmer sites;

fairs, festivals and cooking demonstrations; essay/ photo competitions;

cultural events such as traditional songs and dance, poems, gala, concerts,

shows;

sporting events such as football matches, race/walk, handball, cycling, etc.;

farmer / producer competitions in crops / livestock;

tree-planting, distribution of seedlings, seeding of lakes and ponds and other

production-oriented activities;

awards / recognition ceremonies on the occasion of WFD, using certificates

or agricultural tools.

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World Food Day 2014 worldwide events www.fao.org/world-food-day

Hunger Run Hunger Run

World Food Day and IYFF on Social Media (# WFD 2014 /#IYFF14 / #AIAF14)

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https://www.facebook.com/UNFAO

http://www.flickr.com/groups/faooftheun/pool/tags/iyff14/

http://www.pinterest.com/unfao/international-year-of-family-farming/

http://www.slideshare.net/FAOoftheUN/tag/iyff14/

https://twitter.com/IYFFNews

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=IYFF14

www.fao.org/world-food-day

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsViale delle Terme di Caracalla

00153, Rome Italyworld-food-day@fao.org

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