World Food Day 2002 - Water: source of Food Security

"The world can find enough water to produce the food needed for future generations, if we manage water wisely, now!". This will be the message spread all around the world next October 16th, in occasion of the World Food Day that every year commemorates the anniversary of FAO's funding, 16 October 1945.

This year's World Food Day will have a special meaning as FAO joins the international community in promoting the sustainable use of this essential global resource. Around the world many activities will be held to heighten public awareness about water, as a source of food security and to promote better understanding of the measures that need to be taken to ensure its future supply.

Two pieces of data can help understanding the problem on this precious but finite resource:

- a FAO study on 93 developing countries indicates that some water-scarce nations are already withdrawing water supplies faster than they can be renewed.

- by 2030 one in five developing countries will be suffering water shortage.

FAO is convinced that one key solution is to improve water management so that water is more efficiently used. World Food Day 2002 aims to create awareness that water management systems need to be approached as a high priority at all stakeholder levels.

You can find video and audio material as well as pedagogical tools about the theme here.