World Food Day
World Food Day was on Monday, October 16, 2023. Founded by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945, it was created to “increase awareness of world hunger, food insecurity and poverty, and to inspire solutions for world change.” The theme for this year is “Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind.”
Although water makes up 70% of Earth’s surface, water is not an unlimited resource and needs to be conserved. Land use planning (e.g., urban and rural development), population growth and climate change all contribute to the decline in the amount of water available.
What we eat and how that food is produced all affect the amount of water used. Try to:
- Choose more foods that require less water to produce, such as in-season fresh fruits and vegetables, and eating more plant-based proteins, such as beans, peas, and lentils.
- Buy only what you need and reuse leftovers to reduce food waste. Water is needed to grow food and bring food from farm to table.
- Buy fish that has been caught or farmed sustainably and buy only what you need.
For more information on what you can do to conserve water visit: https://www.fao.org/world-food-day/take-action/what-can-you-do/en
World Food Day recognizes there is food insecurity and poverty in the world. Food insecurity and poverty continues to be a growing issue in our community. One in seven (14.8%) households in Ottawa were food insecure in 2022 (PHO Report, 2023). Even with a recent increase in minimum wage, the struggle for families to purchase food in Ottawa persists. Household food insecurity is the inadequate or insecure access to food due to financial constraints. Food insecurity affects health – those who are food insecure have higher rates of poor mental health and chronic conditions and it is harder to manage their condition.
Every year, Ottawa Public Health conducts the Nutritious Food Basket (NFB) survey to monitor food affordability in the region. The 2023 NFB survey results support local community partners to advocate for income-based policies to reduce food insecurity and will be presented at the Board of Health in November and publicly shared in a webinar on November 22, 2023, from 1:30-2:30pm. For more information about food insecurity, visit: Food Insecurity and the Nutritious Food Basket – Ottawa Public Health
