Expo 2020 Dubai hosts celebration of World Food Day

Today, at Expo 2020 Dubai, the celebration of “World Food Day” was launched under the slogan “Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment, and a Better Life.” Expo 2020 Dubai and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

The program of events included an opening ceremony, a series of activities to promote awareness about food, and other events that sought to engage the public and specialists in interactive dialogues to raise awareness of the importance of the food file and its role in the future of humanity.

After the opening ceremony, the events began through a series of activities directed to the public, with the participation of a group of food experts from different countries of the world. These activities witnessed a call for global solidarity to rethink food systems and re-design them in line with the sustainable development goals, from In order to ensure a healthy life and a healthy planet.

The idea of ​​celebrating World Food Day is based on the need for humanity to unite to transform old food systems and consumption patterns into food systems that enhance human health and well-being, and have a safe impact on the environment, while providing food at prices that suit everyone.

Expo 2020 Dubai represents the ideal platform to host World Food Day, as it aligns with the essence of the event and its most important objectives, which is to ensure that everyone is included in an integrated development system for a better future for all.

Her Excellency Maryam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Al Muhairi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said: “We are pleased with our role today in celebrating World Food Day this year, and we are pleased to take Expo 2020 Dubai as a platform to deliver our message to the global audience participating in the event.

The wise leadership in the country is working to implement pioneering efforts and innovative solutions to ensure food security for all, recognizing that it is a fundamental pillar of sustainable development.”

Her Excellency added, “Our efforts are based on solid foundations, including the principle of ensuring that everyone is involved as we pursue our goals, and one of these goals is to transform the UAE into a leading global center in the field of food security based on innovation.

This ambition is an integrated approach to work in the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.”

Gerda Verburg, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Coordinator of the Scaling Up Nutrition movement, said: “The World Food Day celebrations at Expo 2020 Dubai come at an ideal time and as a result of the massive and unprecedented momentum of the United Nations Food Systems Summit 2021, which It will bring together major key players in this field. The celebration and discussions will help in exchanging experiences and linking several vital issues such as nutrition, climate, human dignity and prosperity, and opinions will turn into qualitative ideas and solutions implemented in innovative ways that countries will lead and seek to implement efficiently and effectively.”

Agnes Kalibata, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Food Systems Summit, said: “World Food Day is a reflection of the success of the Summit on Food Systems and a stepping stone towards the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030, as well as a complete transformation of food systems.

Hard work is just the beginning, ensuring a better future for present and future generations, and it will all come in handy if the world seizes the opportunity and successfully transforms food systems for the better.”

Abdel Hakim El Waer, Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa Region, said: “World Food Day 2021 is being celebrated for the second time during the COVID-19 pandemic, whose repercussions have disrupted agricultural-food systems and led to an unprecedented economic recession. This has resulted in a significant loss of livelihoods and income sources, and increased food insecurity and inequality.”

The official opening ceremony of World Food Day 2021 was held at the main platform of Expo 2020 Dubai, in the presence of Her Excellency Maryam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Al Muhairi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, His Excellency Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Cultural Adviser to His Highness the President of the State, and representatives of the "FAO" Organization, and included speeches by prominent international figures. In the field of reformulating and transforming food systems.

Among the speakers were H.E. Maryam Al Muhairi, Dr. Agnes Kalibata, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to the 2021 Food Systems Summit; Abdelhakim Rajab El-Waer, Assistant Director-General of FAO and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa; and Dr. Shektontala Harksen Thalested, CGIAR Scientist on the Future of Food Security and Fighting Poverty, and winner of the 2021 World Food Prize.

The World Food Day agenda continued with a program focused on the community, as it witnessed interactive sessions in which guests participated, and the topics discussed reflected the main slogan of World Food Day “Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment, and Better Life.”

The agenda also included dialogues with “food experts” who are transforming food systems and working to ensure food is available despite challenges as well as live cooking demonstrations, and panel discussions on actions the public can take to participate in a modern agriculture-based diet - a system It provides healthy food, adopts more sustainable consumption patterns, and reduces food waste.

World Food Day 2021 concluded with a youth seminar organized in cooperation with the Federal Youth Foundation, where the platform allowed participants to discuss the critical role that youth play in enhancing food security. Among the issues discussed was the issue of conflict in the priority areas of work for people, planet and prosperity, and the role of youth in creating Change, and how to ensure the success of actions taken in the food sectors.

The outcome of this episode will be presented in the form of a research study, which will summarize the discussions and highlight the youth's key recommendations.