World Food Day is almost here with a global call to end hunger
Alarming levels of hunger will persist throughout the remainder of 2025, leaving millions unsure of where their next meal will come from. The worsening outlook makes World Food Day on Oct. 16 more urgent, calling on nations to work together to secure food for all. As prices rise and conflicts disrupt supplies, aid groups stabilize food systems and act to prevent deeper crises.
To respond to the crisis, international organizations expand feeding programs in schools and conflict zones to ensure that children and displaced families receive daily meals despite limited resources. They also train farmers, support local markets and help communities rebuild stable food networks to strengthen resilience against future disruptions.
What World Food Day represents
World Food Day, first celebrated in 1979, returns each year on Oct. 16 as a reminder of the urgent need to address hunger. The 2025 observance calls for countries, organizations and communities to work together toward a food-secure future built on peace and sustainability.
The day draws attention to the millions who face food insecurity and emphasizes the role of cooperation in reaching the United Nations’ Zero Hunger goal. It serves as a measure of progress and a push for action where gaps remain.
Current global hunger challenges
In 2024, an estimated 44.4 million people faced emergency levels of hunger that demanded urgent aid to save lives and protect livelihoods. Rising food prices were among the biggest pressures that strained household budgets and made balanced diets harder to afford.
Wars and regional unrest blocked supply chains and displaced families, leaving many without stable access to food. At the same time, droughts, floods and unpredictable weather linked to climate change kept harvests unstable and weakened long-term food security.
Economic setbacks add to the strain, with job losses and shrinking incomes limiting the ability of families to afford nutritious meals. Healthy food often costs more than processed, calorie-heavy items, pushing many low-income households toward diets that worsen health problems over time. In communities with limited access to fresh produce, reliance on packaged goods has grown, linking food insecurity with poor nutrition. These pressures underline why the fight against hunger remains one of the most urgent challenges worldwide.
When hunger becomes a crisis
Poor diets lacking essential vitamins and minerals continue to damage health and limit opportunities for millions. Children remain the most vulnerable, with undernutrition leading to long-term setbacks in physical growth and mental development.
The impact extends beyond households, as malnutrition slows economic growth by reducing school achievement, eroding workforce skills and keeping people trapped in poverty. Hunger and conflict also reinforce one another, with displaced families competing for scarce resources in already fragile regions.
When hunger escalates into famine, the crisis reaches its most extreme point. Severe food shortages cause widespread malnutrition, starvation and death. Displaced populations and refugees face the highest risk, relying entirely on emergency aid to survive.
Efforts to end hunger worldwide
International organizations target the most vulnerable populations, and efforts to end hunger continue across the globe. The World Food Programme focuses on people at the highest risk of poor nutrition and food shortages. Its programs prioritize young children and mothers who are pregnant or breastfeeding, those with the greatest needs and the fewest reserves. The agency also works with governments and partners to monitor risks and respond quickly where needs are most urgent.
Other organizations lead projects in multiple regions. Concern Worldwide operates in Chad’s Lac region to strengthen food security, and local markets support programs in Sierra Leone and Bangladesh to improve long-term access to food and nutrition.
Rise Against Hunger works with Hope for Burkina Futures to provide daily school meals for 1,250 students near Ouagadougou and partners with Salesian Missions in Burundi to support meals for more than 1,600 students. In Malawi, it collaborates with the Foundation for Community Support Services to train 3,100 smallholder farmers and expand access to credit through village savings groups. These efforts align with the goals of World Food Day and emphasize the need for global cooperation to confront hunger and strengthen food security.
How can people take part
People can take part in World Food Day through local events and digital platforms. Many communities organize events and discussions that focus on food insecurity and solutions to address it, while virtual panels and forums expand the conversation globally. Others volunteer at food banks or support hunger-relief groups that provide daily meals to families in need.
The observance also encourages action beyond a single day. Advocating for sustainable food systems and responsible consumption keeps the issue in the public eye. Educating friends and neighbors about reducing food waste and building healthier diets adds another crucial step toward lasting change. Together, these actions link individual choices to the broader push for global food security.
Global unity against hunger
World Food Day stresses the urgency of fighting hunger and highlights concrete solutions. It draws attention to the global scale of food insecurity and the need for nations, organizations and local groups to work together. Efforts range from aid programs that reach crisis zones to everyday choices such as cutting food waste and supporting sustainable diets. The day serves as a call for unity, reminding people that progress is possible when action is shared.
Jennifer Allen is a retired professional chef and long-time writer. Her work appears in dozens of publications, including MSN, Yahoo, The Washington Post and The Seattle Times. These days, she’s busy in the kitchen developing recipes and traveling the world, and you can find all her best creations at Cook What You Love.