TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The World Food Day is celebrated a second time during the COVID-19 pandemic today, October 16. In many parts of the world, the pandemic has triggered brutal recessions, jeopardized access to food, and affected the entire food systems. Yet even before the pandemic, hunger was spreading; progress on malnutrition lagged and number of hungry people increased across the globe.

Therefore, this year's theme of the #WorldFoodDay is: Our Actions are our future, better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life (four betters). It highlights the importance of sustainable agri-food systems for a more resilient world anticipating the future.

It is known that the world now is having huge set back in the fight against hunger. FAO reported today that more than 3 billion people (almost 40% of the world’s population) cannot afford a healthy diet in a sustainable manner. At the same time, obesity is in the rise in many countries. Up to 811 million people are undernourished and in contrast, 2 billion adults are overweight or obese, due to the poor diets combined with a sedentary lifedata-style, as stated by FAO in the press release received by Tempo on October 16.

In Indonesia, the number of overweight adults has doubled over the past two decades. Childhood obesity is also on the rise. Yet, 27.67% of children in Indonesia under 5 years of age are stunted, or too short for their age, which is higher than the average for the Asia region.

As shown, today’s agrifood systems are exposing profound inequalities and injustices in our society. The system that covers the journey of food from farm to table – including when it is grown, harvested, processed, packaged, transported, distributed, traded, bought, prepared, eaten and disposed- urgently needs to be transformed in a more sustainable way.

“Our lives depend on the agrifood systems. Every time you eat, you participate in the system. The food we choose and the way we produce, prepare, cook and store it make us an integral and active part of the way in which an agri-food system works“, said Rajendra Aryal, FAO Representative in Indonesia.

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Sustainable agrifood system is therefore a way in which a variety of sufficient, nutritious and safe food becomes available at an affordable price to everyone, and nobody remains hungry or suffers from any form of malnutrition or obesity.

Be sustainable from the farm to table

The Agrifood systems employ 1 billion people worldwide, more than any other economic sector. Moreover, the way we produce, consume and, sadly, waste food exacts a heavy toll on our planet, putting unnecessary pressure on natural resources, the environment and climate. Food production too often degrades or destroys natural habitats and contributes to the extinction of species.

FAO has been working hand in hand with the Government of Indonesia and contributing to ensure sustainable agriculture development in the country.

Since 2019, FAO has been supporting National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS) in a nation-wide agri-food system analysis and provided several recommendations to improve its sustainability in Indonesia. The development of a National Food Agency, to coordinate agri-food systems’ related issues in the country and support to agri-food system planning, as the part of capacity building processes , were part of the FAO support to BAPPENAS.

FAO is also supporting the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) to sustain the forest and peatland to cope with the impacts of climate change.

“We need collective actions to transform our agri-food systems. Everyone must understand that their treatment to food affects the food system. The global transformation only can happen if it starts with individuals. The way you choose, produce, consume and waste your food influence others. . We need to act, and it must be now, and let us put our efforts together in whatever capacity we can“, added Rajendra.

World Food Day is celebrated every year on 16 October. Collective action across 150 countries is what makes World Food Day one of the most celebrated days of the UN calendar.

Read: World Food Day: Unleash the Power of Innovation to Support Food Heroes

FAO | LA