For World Food Day, Obama Recommits to Ending Hunger

The United States is helping countries transform their agriculture sectors by investing in smallholder farmers — particularly women — who are the key to spurring economic growth and sustainably cultivating enough food to feed their people.

Every day, the United States is fighting the root causes of chronic hunger.

“Through initiatives like Feed the Future, we are helping partner countries transform their agriculture sectors by investing in smallholder farmers — particularly women — who are the key to spurring economic growth and sustainably cultivating enough food to feed their people," President Obama said in an October 12 statement.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1979 proclaimed October 16 as World Food Day to raise international awareness and understanding of approaches to ending hunger. Every year since 1981, World Food Day has been observed by people in more than 100 countries.

"To build on commitments made during the 2009 G8 Summit at L’Aquila, Italy, the United States is also working with fellow G8 nations through the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, which aims to help free 50 million people in sub-Saharan Africa from poverty over the next decade," Obama said.

“On World Food Day, let us each recommit to doing our part to end hunger and poverty wherever it exists and to reaching for a healthier, more prosperous future for all," he said.