World Food Day is observed on October 16, with this year's campaign urging faster investment in innovations to feed a growing population.

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• World Food Day is observed every year on October 16 to mark the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945.
• FAO member states established the observance in November 1979 at the organisation's 20th General Conference.
• The day is celebrated in more than 150 countries, with FAO leading the global campaign.
• The 2026 campaign theme centres on innovating today to feed tomorrow.
• FAO is calling on governments, businesses and researchers to speed up investment in proven innovations that can scale quickly.
• FAO's State of Food Security and Nutrition 2025 report estimated that 733 million people faced hunger in 2024, about one in eleven globally.
• Past themes have covered food waste, biodiversity, sustainable food systems and rural livelihoods.
• The 2025 theme was Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future, tied to FAO's 80th anniversary.
• FAO is headquartered in Rome and has 194 members, comprising 193 countries and the European Union.
• FAO's flagship World Food Day event is held at its Rome headquarters.

Tags: WorldFoodDay, FAO, FoodSecurity