Rome:The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) marked World Food Day 2026, emphasizing the significance of innovation in achieving its mission to end hunger and create resilient agrifood systems worldwide.
According to Emirates News Agency, the event took place on October 16 under the theme 'Innovate Today. Nourish Tomorrow.' and was celebrated in over 150 countries in more than 50 languages. The FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, opened the event at the FAO's Rome headquarters, gathering international leaders and dignitaries.
QU Dongyu highlighted the importance of innovation in serving people and improving lives by converting knowledge into opportunities and science into solutions. He noted the gap between scientific capabilities and their reach to farmers, stressing that effective solutions are developed with and for the users, such as farmers, fishers, and rural communities, and require local adaptation, investment, and partnerships.
In a statement from Pope Leo XIV, read on his behalf, he called for a 'new global food order' where technology meets wisdom and basic necessities like bread and water are universally accessible. He emphasized the need for an intergenerational sense of responsibility.
Francesco Lollobrigida, Italy's Minister for Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests, reiterated the importance of innovation in balancing productivity, sustainability, and resilience. World Food Day 2026 served as a reminder of the shared duty to strengthen agrifood systems and support those working in these sectors while maintaining environmental care.
Innovation continues to transform food production, storage, transport, and marketing. The challenge lies in ensuring that innovation leads to tangible impacts and is scaled appropriately through sustained investment and partnerships. The necessary knowledge and resources exist globally to achieve these goals, with innovation being the key to delivery.