Rome, Italy · 16 October 2025 — The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations marked its 80th anniversary on 16 October 2025, as countries around the world observed World Food Day under the theme "Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future." The dual commemoration served as both a celebration of eight decades of institutional work and a sobering reminder that hundreds of millions of people continue to face hunger and malnutrition.
Founded on 16 October 1945 in Quebec, Canada — before the United Nations itself formally came into existence — FAO has grown from an organisation of 44 founding member nations to one of 195 members today, serving as the UN's lead specialised agency for food and agriculture. Over eight decades, the organisation has played a central role in shaping global food policy, coordinating responses to agricultural crises, and monitoring the state of global food security.
A Theme of Collective Action
The 2025 World Food Day theme, "Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future," emphasised the necessity of global collaboration across governments, the private sector, communities, and individuals to transform agrifood systems. The theme served as a call to ensure that everyone has access to healthy, diverse, and affordable diets while living in harmony with the planet.
Events marking the day took place in nearly 150 countries, in up to 50 languages, making World Food Day one of the most celebrated days on the UN calendar. Hundreds of events and outreach activities brought together governments, municipalities, businesses, civil society organisations, the media, and youth to promote awareness of hunger and action for the future of food.
Eight Decades of FAO: From Post-War Reconstruction to Global Food Governance
FAO was established in the aftermath of the Second World War, when global food production had been devastated by years of conflict and agricultural infrastructure lay in ruins across Europe and Asia. The organisation's founding mandate was to raise levels of nutrition and standards of living, secure improvements in the efficiency of production and distribution of food and agricultural products, and better the condition of rural populations.
Over the decades, FAO's work has evolved in response to shifting global challenges:
| Period | Key Challenges | FAO Response |
|---|---|---|
| 1945–1960s | Post-war reconstruction, food shortages | Technical assistance, agricultural development programmes |
| 1970s–1980s | Famine in Sahel and Horn of Africa, Green Revolution | Early warning systems, crop improvement, irrigation |
| 1990s–2000s | Globalisation, trade liberalisation | Codex Alimentarius, food standards, plant disease control |
| 2010s | Climate change, SDG agenda | Climate-smart agriculture, Zero Hunger initiative |
| 2020s | COVID-19, conflict-driven crises, biodiversity loss | One Health, agrifood systems transformation |
The State of Global Food Security
The 80th anniversary comes at a time when the global food security landscape remains deeply troubled. According to the most recent assessments available in late 2025, an estimated 645 million people faced hunger, and approximately 2.1 billion people experienced moderate or severe food insecurity. While these figures represent a modest decline from the peak recorded in 2022, the pace of improvement remains far too slow to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 2 target of Zero Hunger by 2030.
The persistence of hunger is not primarily a problem of food availability. Global cereal production reached record levels in 2025, with FAO forecasting output of over 3 billion tonnes. Rather, hunger is driven by a combination of conflict, economic shocks, climate extremes, and inequality in access to food. The cost of a healthy diet remains unaffordable for an estimated 2.7 billion people worldwide.
FAO Director-General's Message
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu used the occasion to highlight both the progress achieved and the challenges that remain. In his World Food Day address, he emphasised the need for innovation — both technological and institutional — to transform agrifood systems so that they become more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.
The Director-General pointed to FAO's "Four Betters" framework — better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life — as the organising principle for the organisation's work in the coming decade. This framework aligns with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and reflects the interconnected nature of food, agriculture, and environmental challenges.
The Road Ahead: Agrifood Systems Transformation
As FAO enters its ninth decade, the organisation faces a rapidly evolving set of challenges. Climate change is altering growing seasons, increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, and shifting the geographic distribution of pests and diseases. Conflict continues to disrupt food production and trade in multiple regions. Demographic pressures, urbanisation, and changing dietary patterns are reshaping demand for food.
The anniversary also comes at a time of significant institutional reform within FAO. The organisation has undergone restructuring aimed at improving efficiency, decentralising operations, and strengthening its capacity to respond to emergencies. These reforms have not been without controversy, but they reflect the broader recognition that multilateral institutions must adapt to remain relevant in a changing world.
Sources
- FAO, World Food Day 2025.
- FAO, The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026.
- GAIN, World Food Day 2025.
- Convention on Biological Diversity, Statement on World Food Day 2025.
- Concern Worldwide, World Food Day Explained.
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