The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) led this year's World Food Day celebrations on October 16, 2023, in Rome, Italy. The yearly event commemorates the founding of FAO on the same date in 1945.

This year, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu stressed the role of water in addressing world hunger and other global challenges. �??Without water, there is no food, and there is no food security without water security,�?� he emphasized in his opening message. �??But the good news is that we can produce more and better with less. We can reduce water use, by using water wisely, and by recycling. And we can reduce agriculture's water footprint by adopting a holistic and integrated approach to water management,�?� he added.

Country leaders also gave their messages on the celebration, joining hands with FAO in achieving food and water security. FAO provides practical support to countries for accelerated water action. These initiatives, collectively called Water Journey, include technical solutions for rainwater harvesting and storage, aquifer storage and recovery, non-conventional water resources for agriculture, irrigation systems, and fish passages.


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