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FAO-WFD-20251016-Ceremony-Quotes

The World Food Day ceremony 2025 took place on 16 October in Rome, marking FAO’s 80th anniversary under the theme “Hand in hand for better foods and a better future.” The event brought together world leaders, partners, and youth to call for stronger global solidarity and action to build more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agrifood systems.

This year’s celebration came amid extreme weather and climate events, economic shocks, and rising inequality, which continue to undermine global food security — leaving hundreds of millions facing hunger and billions unable to afford a healthy diet.

The ceremony was opened by QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and featured high-level statements from Heads of State and Government.

Asset date 10/16/2025

Script MAIN MESSAGES OF THE 2025 WORLD FOOD DAY OPENING CEREMONY

(Time code: 00:00)
SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH), QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
“Hunger knows no borders, and the challenge of food security demands unity among nations. The world’s leaders and people everywhere must come together united by our collective belief that the right to food is a basic human right, and that peace is a prerequisite for food security.”

(Time code: 00:29)
SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH), His Holiness Pope Leo XIV
“I want to bring to the attention of this international forum the multitudes who lack access to drinking water, food, essential medical care, decent housing, basic education, or dignified work, so that we can share in the pain of those who are nourished by despair, tears, and misery alone. How can we fail to remember all of those who are condemned to death and hardship in Ukraine, Gaza, Haiti, Afghanistan, Mali, the Central African Republic, Yemen, and South Sudan, to name just a few places on the planet where poverty has become the daily bread of so many of our brothers and sisters? The international community cannot look the other way. We must make their suffering our own.”

(Time code: 01:21)
SOUNDBITE (SPANISH), His Holiness Pope Leo XIV
"A ochenta años de la institución de la FAO, nuestra conciencia debe interpelarnos una vez más frente al drama —siempre actual— del hambre y la malnutrición. Poner fin a estos males incumbe no sólo a empresarios, funcionarios o responsables políticos. Es un problema a cuya solución todos debemos concurrir: agencias internacionales, gobiernos, instituciones públicas, oenegés, entidades académicas y sociedad civil, sin olvidar a cada persona en particular, que ha de ver en el sufrimiento ajeno algo propio. Quien padece hambre no es un extraño. Es mi hermano y he de ayudarlo sin dilación alguna."

(Time code: 02:12)
SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH), United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres
“Global progress is far too slow and, in some regions, reversing. New challenges have emerged over the decades from soaring obesity to climate shocks threatening food security. Shamefully, hunger is being weaponized – we face the appalling reality of people in conflict situations being starved with famine taking hold. This year's World Food Day theme — ‘Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future’ — is a call for solidarity across borders, sectors and communities.”

(Time code: 02:41)
SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH), The message of Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, read out by Han Jun, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of ChinaOriginal: “中国将一如既往支持联合国粮食及农业组织在国际粮农领域发挥重要作用，愿同国际社会携手落实全球发展倡议，推进联合国2030年可持续发展议程.”

Translation: “China will continue to support the Food and Agriculture Organization's work and play an important role in the field of international food and agriculture. China is willing to work together with the international community to implement the Global Development Initiative and to promote the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals agenda.”

(Time code: 03:09)
SOUNDBITE (ITALIANO), Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani

Original: “Ecco perché non possiamo, in questo momento di guerra, non fare tutto, cioè ciò che è possibile per alleviare la sofferenza del popolo di Gaza. Ci sono centinaia di migliaia di donne e bambini che soffrono la fame; sono — e ci saranno, se non interverremo rapidamente — morti per fame. Ecco perché è giusto che si apra la porta di Rafah, che possano entrare centinaia di TIR, e l'Italia farà la sua parte.”

Translation: “In this moment of war, we need to do our part to alleviate the pain of the people of Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of women and children suffer from hunger. There have been and will be hunger deaths if we don’t intervene immediately. This is why the Rafah gate should be opened so that hundreds of trucks can enter. Italy is ready to do its part.”

Duration 3m41s

File size 30.57 MB

Unique identifier UF1AQ7A