World Food Day 2017
On October 16, an event dedicated to World Food Day was held at ADA University, jointly organized by the IDEA Public Union, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). World Food Day 2017 was held under the slogan “Change the Future of Migration: Invest in Food Security and Rural Development.”
The event was attended by Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of the IDEA Public Union, and Goodwill Ambassador of the FAO.
Emphasizing the importance of World Food Day, Leyla Aliyeva stated in her speech that food security and rural development are crucial factors for ensuring peace, stability, and sustainability in the world, and that existing problems in this area can lead to conflict, hunger, and mass migration. She noted that migration should not be forced but a voluntary choice, and that investments should be made in the development of regions to prevent millions of people from leaving their homelands. Leyla Aliyeva also spoke about the activities of the IDEA Public Union under her leadership, the work carried out over the past six years, and projects of particular importance for food security, environmental protection, and sustainable development.
The event also featured speeches by Heydar Asadov, Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Melek Cakmak, Head of the FAO Partnership and Liaison Office in Azerbaijan; and Serhan Aktoprak, Head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Representation in Azerbaijan. A video message from FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva on World Food Day was also shown.
The event continued with panel discussions on “Economic and Political Aspects of Migration: Impacts on Agriculture and Food.” The panels addressed the challenges and opportunities created by migration in terms of food security, sustainable agriculture, and rural development.
October 16, the date of FAO’s establishment in 1945, is celebrated as World Food Day in more than 150 countries worldwide. The main goal of events dedicated to this day is to raise awareness about hunger and poverty issues globally.
