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AUDIO PACKAGE - World Food Day 2024 ceremony

The World Food Day ceremony 2024 took place October 16, in Rome, with participants underlining the need for universal access to enough diverse, nutritious, affordable, and safe foods.

The event came amid growing global tensions and conflicts and climate shocks, which are among factors contributing to the challenge of hundreds of millions of people worldwide facing hunger and billions being 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, followed by speeches from King Letsie III of Lesotho, Francesco Lollobrigida, Italy’s Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, a message read on behalf of Pope Francis, and a video message from UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Asset date 10/16/2024

Language English

Script 1. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH), QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General (0:17-0:57):

"This World Food Day I am calling on all of us to renew our commitment of building more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable agrifood systems that can nourish the world. Agrifood systems that support smallholder farmers, family farmers and small businesses people across the value chain who, in many countries, are fundamental to making nutritious, diverse foods available to all, and to preserving traditional food cultures. There is no time to lose."

2. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH), King Letsie III, Kingdom of Lesotho (1:09 - 1:45):

"We have the power to reverse this trend, we can transform our agrifood systems to enable everyone, everywhere, to enjoy healthy diets. This is our right to adequate food. Achieving good nutrition is not just an aspiration, it is an achievable goal that we must strive for collectively."

3. SOUNDBITE (SPANISH) Monsignor Fernando Chica Arellano, Permanent Representation of the Holy See (1:46-2:19):

“Political and economic decision-makers at the international level must listen to the demands of those at the bottom of the food chain, such as small-scale farmers, and of intermediate social groups, such as the family, who are directly involved in feeding people.

4. SOUNDBITE (ITALIAN), Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister for Agriculture and Food Sovereignty of Italy (2:24 – 2:40):

“The situation [of hunger] has worsened with the effects of climate change, which has become more rapid, with the impact of global conflicts that, instead of decreasing, are multiplying.”

5. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations (2:46-3:19):

“Food systems need a massive transformation, with the contributions of businesses, academics, research institutions and civil society, to become more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. Governments must work with all partners to incentivize the production and sale of healthy, nutritious food at affordable prices. On World Food Day, let’s step up the fight against hunger and malnutrition. Let’s take action to uphold the right to foods for a better life and a better future.”

6. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Jeffrey Prescott, US Ambassador to the UN Agencies in Rome (3:29-3:46):

“More people die from hunger and related causes globally than in all violent conflicts, both inter- and intra-state combined. These as astounding facts. Hunger anywhere, in a world of such abundance, is an insult to human dignity.

Duration 4m31s

File size 49.71 MB

UNFAO Source FAO Audio

Unique identifier UF18BVS