In Sweden, World Food Day will be celebrated by a seminar on 16 October, organized by the Swedish FAO Committee in cooperation with the Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation. It will commemorate the 72nd Anniversary of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The theme of World Food Day 2017 – Change the future of migration. Invest in food security and rural development – focuses on the link between migration, food security and rural development. Large movements of people today are presenting complex challenges which call for global action. The international community increasingly now recognises that the best long-term solution is tackling the root causes of distress migration. Rural development is critical in reaching sustainable livelihoods. By investing in inclusive and sustainable growth, the potential of migration’s contribution to development as well as to increase the resilience of displaced and host communities can maximize the potential of agriculture as an important solution.
Rural development can address factors that compel people to move by creating business opportunities and jobs for young people. It can increase food security, reduce conflict over natural resources and solutions to environmental degradation and climate change. Since world population is expecting to double in the next decades, mainly in developing countries, a sustainable increase in productivity in agriculture, including forestry and fisheries, is necessary. Investing in agriculture in these countries would make an important contribution to decrease distressed migration.
The seminar will view the issue from different perspectives. It will not only discuss the root causes, but focus on solutions. Successful examples will be presented. Please, join us to discuss this very topical issue and how to find the best answers.