FAO holds global ceremony marking World Food Day 2024 in Rome

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) held a commemorative event for World Food Day at its headquarters in Rome on Wednesday, with the FAO head underscoring that access to sufficient food is a fundamental human right.

The global event was themed "Right to Food for a Better Life and a Better Future: Leave No One Behind."

Despite advancements in agricultural practices, approximately 733 million people worldwide are still facing hunger. This staggering statistic translates to one in every 11 individuals lacking adequate nutrition, according to reports from the World Food Programme and other international organizations.

"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. Let us remember that there cannot be food security without peace. Peace is a prerequisite for food security, and the right to food is a basic human right," Qu Dongyu, the FAO Director-General said in his opening remarks.

As part of World Food Week, which runs from this Monday to Friday, the FAO is hosting a series of events, including the World Food Forum, an exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the FAO, and the Junior World Food Week focused on food security awareness. Additionally, hundreds of events are scheduled worldwide, aimed at mobilizing action from various sectors to ensure food security for all.

FAO holds global ceremony marking World Food Day 2024 in Rome

Grain enterprises across China have purchased 120 million tons of autumn grains recently, according to data from the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.

Provinces like Henan, Jiangsu, Heilongjiang, and Anhui have set up the minimum purchase price of middle- and late-season rice. Over 200 purchasing spots have been set up in these four provinces to facilitate grain farmers in selling their crops.

Currently the purchase of middle- and late-season indica rice in the southern region stands at around 40 to 50 percent, while in the northeast region, the purchase of japonica rice is around 20 percent. In the north and northeast China, purchase of corn stands at 20 percent to 30 percent, while that of soybeans is around 15 percent in northeastern region.

The average price of middle- and late-season rice is about 2.6 yuan per kilogram. With demand rising for animal feed, prices of corn and soybean are gradually recovering and stabilizing, boosting acquisition interest.

"Currently, the cumulative procurement of middle- and late-season rice at the minimum purchase price has exceeded 1.8 million tons, effectively stabilizing market expectations and ensuring reasonable grain prices," said Luo Shouquan, director of the grain reserve department of the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.

Autumn grain purchases across China total 120 million tons