A.MAGHILAN MBA, SV COLLEGES.

World Food Day was proclaimed in 1979 by the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It marks the date of the founding of FAO in 1945. The aim of the Day is to heighten public awareness of the world food problem and strengthen solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty. In 1980, the General Assembly endorsed observance of the Day in consideration of the fact that "food is a requisite for human survival and well-being and a fundamental human necessity".

 World Food Day is annually held on October 16 to commemorate the founding of the United Nations' (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Each year has a different theme. It is also the Food Engineer day. The World Food Day theme for 2012 is "Agricultural cooperatives key to feeding the world".

Background
The FAO aims to raise levels of nutrition across the globe, improve agricultural productivity at all levels, enhance the lives of rural populations and contribute to the growth of the world economy. It also provides assistance to countries changing their agricultural policy, to aid regions out of famine situations, to help implement appropriate technology and facilitate a neutral environment to discuss issues around food production.

 At the FAO's 20th session in Rome, Italy, in November 1979 the conference called for the observance of World Food Day on October 16, 1981, and on the same date each year. The UN General Assembly ratified this decision on December 5, 1980, and urged governments and international, national and local organizations to contribute to observing World Food Day. World Food Day has been held each year since 1981.

Symbols
The FAO's symbol consists of a circle. Inside the circle is a graphical image of an ear of wheat and the letters F, A and O. The FAO's motto fiat panis (let there be bread) appears under the ear of wheat. The first version of this design was a badge distributed to delegates at an FAO conference in Copenhagen in 1946. The current version was registered with the United International Bureaux for the Protection of Intellectual Property on July 1, 1964, and has been used widely since about 1977.

The objectives of World Food Day : Encourage attention to agricultural food production and to stimulate national, bilateral, multilateral and non-governmental efforts to this end. Encourage economic and technical cooperation among developing countries. Encourage the participation of rural people, particularly women and the least privileged categories, in decisions and activities influencing their living conditions.

 Heighten public awareness of the problem of hunger in the world. Promote the transfer of technologies to the developing world. Strengthen international and national solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty and draw attention to achievements in food and agricultural development.