Hunger on rise when world wastes 1 billion tonnes of food every year: UN chief
| Date :18-Oct-2019 |
NEW DELHI :
UNITED Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over the global food situation wherein “more than 820 million people do not have enough to eat” while one billion tonnes of food is wasted every year. In his message on ‘World Food Day’, which was released here on Thursday by the UN India, he said, “It is unacceptable that hunger is on the rise at a time when the world wastes more than one billion tonnes of food every year.”
Two billion men, women, and children are overweight or obese. Unhealthy diets present an enormous risk of disease and death, Guterres said, adding that “it is time to change how we produce and consume, including to reduce greenhouse emissions”. World Food Day marked call for zero hunger “for a world where nutritious food is available and affordable for everyone, everywhere”.
Transforming food systems is crucial for delivering all the sustainable development goals (SDG) and “that is why I hope to convene a ‘Food Systems Summit in 2021’ as part of a decade of action to deliver SDG. As a human family, a world free of hunger is our imperative, he said.