World Hunger Day 2023: Sustainability

Did you know that one third of food produced is never eaten?

We are proud to join our global community this World Hunger Day, May 28, to unite with millions of people and thousands of organizations around the world to amplify the voices of those facing hunger.

Founded by The Hunger Project in 2011, World Hunger Day is a day to celebrate tangible solutions that will end hunger, lifting up the local communities worldwide that are making this happen. Share your World Hunger Day message using #worldhungerday.

What’s the state of world hunger?

Over 800 million people go hungry every day. And yet one third of all food is wasted. This is not sustainable. Throughout May, we will be recognizing the critical role of creating sustainable food systems, to ensure that everyone has access to nutritious and affordable food, both now and in the future.

Globally, around 14% of food produced is lost between harvest and retail, while an estimated 17% is wasted by retailers and consumers. It’s critical that we recognize the interconnectedness of food security, climate change and biodiversity loss and take a holistic approach to addressing these issues.

By sharing and investing on World Hunger Day, you join Hunger Project partners and millions of people who are agents of their own development. You partner with local leaders who have reached across political and cultural boundaries in meaningful ways to generate peace and lasting solutions to hunger and poverty in their communities.

What makes a food system sustainable?

At the heart of our work at The Hunger Project is sustainability. Our programs focus on the economic, social, and environmental factors that contribute to ending hunger. This means strengthening local capacities to create food systems that are:

economically viable for farmers and producers;
socially just for all members of society; and
environmentally responsible in terms of land use, water resources, and climate impacts.

We, as a global community, must act in the interest of current and future generations. This World Hunger Day, take action to amplify the voices of local solutions and local leaders — especially young leaders — and together we can build resilient, sustainable communities free from hunger.

Invest in the sustainable end of hunger

How do we create sustainable food systems?

Encourage sustainable farming practices.

In Uganda, we train farmers to adopt eco-friendly farming methods to enhance agricultural productivity and lead sustainable livelihoods. We work in eight districts in the country, where we have set up agro-ecological zones referred to as epicenters. To date, eight epicenters in Uganda are now self-reliant. Across our epicenters in Africa, community members create community farms, where they learn regenerative agriculture practices such as composting, intercropping, and drip irrigation to promote biodiversity, improve crop yields, restore soil fertility and make the best use of scarce resources. Community partners receive training on food processing to reduce food waste.

Image: Faridah, Uganda 2022

Increase access to agro-technology.

Across the world we create access opportunities to technical training and credit, mobilizing people to adopt sustainable agricultural technology and practices, and encouraging them to demand agricultural extension services from their regional and national governments. We have a Microfinance program that supports women to access funding – a missing link for the end of hunger– to start and grow their businesses. Through the Meaningful Access Initiative in Ghana and Malawi, women can now access information and resources about new sustainable farming techniques, and markets that can help them improve their livelihoods and increase their yields.

Image: Rachel, Ghana 2022

Guthyamma-Thogarsi-Shivamogga-District-Karnataka-India-2020-© The Hunger Project-Sujata Khanna

Build capacity to adapt to climate change

In India we hold workshops that build capacity for individuals to exercise leadership, take steps to reduce their vulnerability and formulate strategies to mitigate climate change risks. At the regional and international level, we advocate for the conservation of natural resources, the mitigation of the harmful effects of extractive industries, and the recovery and promotion of traditional knowledge and technology that is highly adaptable to changing climate conditions.

Image: Guthyamma, India 2021

Promote reforestation and tree planting

Throughout our Program Countries, we established tree nurseries, which can reforest communities, control soil erosion, and become entrepreneurial village businesses that supply families with fruit trees that not only capture carbon, but also provide nutrition and income. In Mexico, indigenous women leaders are confronting climate change head on by installing ecostoves to reduce deforestation and improve air quality. By doing this, they have made it possible for women and girls to enroll in school and take leadership roles in their communities instead of spending hours gathering firewood. In Ethiopia, we are addressing environmental degradation through a community-led forest restoration and land rehabilitation program to improve the livelihoods of local communities.

Image: Yeshialem and Alemayehu, Ethiopia, 2019 (Photo by Johannes Odé)

What you can do.

Share the message and tag us on social media
Tell your friends, family and colleagues about World Hunger Day
Learn more about transforming our global food system in harmony with the planet and people.
Follow our tips on sustainability

Want to eat more sustainably?

Expand each section below using the + symbol.

Plan your meals:

Before going grocery shopping, plan your meals for the week and make a list of the ingredients you need. This will help you avoid buying unnecessary items and reduce the amount of food that goes to waste.

Buy only what you need:

When shopping, buy only the amount of food you need. Avoid buying in bulk or large quantities unless you are sure you will use it all up.

Store food properly:

Proper storage can help extend the life of your food. Keep perishable items like fruits, vegetables, and dairy products in the fridge, and store dry goods like grains, pasta, and beans in a cool, dry place.

Use leftovers:

Don’t let leftovers go to waste. Use them to create new meals or freeze them for later use.

Compost:

If you have a garden or compost bin, compost your food scraps instead of throwing them away. This will reduce the amount of waste going to landfills and provide nutrient-rich soil for your plants.

Donate excess food:

If you have excess food that you won’t be able to use before it goes bad, consider donating it to a local food bank or shelter.

Educate others:

Spread the word about food waste and encourage others to take action to reduce it.

Learn more about World Hunger Day activities around the world at worldhungerday.org

Image: Burkina Faso, 2022 Photo for The Hunger Project