Enabling environment is critical for sustainable and equitable food systems

Following is the message by World Food Program Representative Brenda Barton to mark World Food Day

Today, Sri Lanka and the rest of the world commemorate World Food Day, with the timely message that ‘Our Actions are Our Future’. 

This year the theme is an action-oriented campaign calling on all stakeholders – ranging from Government, private sector, including food producers and distributors, civil society, and citizens including youth and children to participate and contribute towards a world without hunger by 2030. 

A zero hunger and nourished Sri Lanka by 2030 can become a reality but it will take focused, dedicated joint efforts from all of us.  Recognizing the importance of these collaborative efforts, in 2012, Sri Lanka made a significant pledge by signing up to a global nutrition agenda, the “Scale Up Nutrition” (SUN) movement.  The SUN movement focuses on encouraging national efforts to implement evidence-based nutrition actions to address the persistently high level of all forms of malnutrition.  

These actions include those on which the business sector can make valuable contributions - be it fortification, healthy product lines at affordable prices, and consumer awareness on healthy living. Indeed, a nourished Sri Lanka nation will only become a reality if there is consumer awareness to drive demand, affordability, availability and accessibility to nutritious foods. This enabling environment is critical to supporting sustainable and equitable food systems. 

Together with the Government of Sri Lanka, WFP is advocating for greater private sector investment in nutrition and agriculture to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, starting with Goal #2 – Zero Hunger.  

Let World Food Day 2018 mark our commitment and journey forward to change lifestyles and to collectively translate needed actions into a productive, healthy communities and overall, a well- nourished, flourishing Sri Lanka.