*THE SECRETARY-GENERAL*
*–*
*Message on World Food Day*
*16 October 2012*
The world food situation continues to be cause for serious concern.
Millions of small food producers — many of whom are women — are
struggling to cope with economic and climatic shocks, and with high and
volatile food prices. Newly released figures from the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural
Development and the World food Programme now put the number of hungry
people worldwide at nearly 870 million — unacceptable in a world of
plenty, a world in which, if food were distributed properly, every person
would have enough to eat.
The theme of this year’s World Food Day, “Agricultural Cooperatives: Key to
Feeding the World”, draws inspiration from the observance of the
International Year of Cooperatives (2012). Agricultural cooperatives play
a vital role in improving food and nutrition security. Owned by their
members, they can generate employment, alleviate poverty, and empower poor
and marginalized groups in rural areas, especially women, to drive their
own destinies. As enterprises with a social conscience, cooperatives have
also proven to be an effective vehicle for social inclusion, promoting
gender equality and encouraging the involvement of youth in agriculture.
The collective orientation that animates the cooperative movement will be
equally crucial in meeting the *Zero Hunger Challenge, *which I launched in
June at the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development. *Zero
Hunger*is our vision for a world without hunger, where all food
systems are
sustainable and everyone enjoys their right to food. The great expertise
of agricultural cooperatives will be invaluable in achieving one of
initiative’s primary aims: doubling the income and productivity of
smallholder farmers. We will also need broad engagement if we are to end
childhood stunting and eliminate food waste, two other pillars of the *Zero
Hunger *effort.
On World Food Day, I urge all partners to join *the Zero Hunger Challenge*.
Collectively, we can end hunger in our lifetime.