National Dialogue – World Food Day
17 October 2022
As part of activities related to the World Food Day (October 16), established in 1945, by the United Nations when the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) was founded, a National Dialogue was held in Belgrade, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, FAO and the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Belgrade.
The main topic of the dialogue was „Leave No One Behind“, with the aim to raise awareness about food security towards more efficient production, quality nutrition, improvement of environment and daily habits. Participants spoke about how we can transform our food systems by implementing sustainable and holistic approaches that include long-term sustainable development, inclusive growth and greater resilience.
Vedrana Ilić, Assistant Minister of Agriculture highlighted the following:
Food is a basic right connected to wellbeing and health of all people, and as we expect that by 2050 global population will reach 10 billion, our imperative must be to produce more food for more people and to do so in a sustainable manner.
We have to take advantage of strength of knowledge to improve food systems, to ensure secure and accessible food for all and at the same time to foster natural resources and fight against climate change.
In my personal opinion, sustainable food systems are created by development of best agricultural practices, implementation of green technologies, improvement of food distribution systems and reduction of food waste.
Dr Fabio Scano, a.i. of the UN Resident Coordinator, WHO Serbia Representative and Special Envoy of the Regional Director for the Western Balkans stated the following:
Working on food systems means much more than working on agriculture and food production, overweight and obesity. It means to bring all the dots that matter that connect nature, farmers, business, health and science together to build a better, healthier and greener world.
Dr Dušan Živković, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture noted:
The problem of food and the quality of food that we consume is a question more pressing than ever. The Faculty of Agriculture aims to contribute to education at all levels, from farmers to students, through cooperation with institutions and all in accordance with promotion of sustainable approach to food and principles of green agriculture.
Panel participants agreed in the end, that it is necessary to ensure the sustainability of food systems, which is primarily reflected in finding solutions for the production of a sufficient amount of healthy food in such a way that the basic economic, social and ecological assumptions used for production do not threaten the nutrition and life of future generations.
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