Zero Hunger Generation and “The Right to Food: Between Deprivation and Waste” Event
As we prepare to promote worldwide awareness for World Food Day 2024, we reflect on our participation in the seminar “The Right to Food: Between Deprivation and Waste – It’s Time to Act,” held on October 10, 2024, at the FAO headquarters in Rome. Organized by the Permanent Mission of the Holy See and the Roma Forum of Catholic-Inspired NGOs, the event addressed the deep contradictions within our global food system—millions of people suffer from hunger, while vast amounts of food are wasted.
The seminar provided a platform for participants to discuss strategies to ensure fair and sustainable access to food for all. New Humanity had the opportunity to share several concrete experiences from our Zero Hunger initiative, highlighting the diverse projects we’ve implemented across the globe to address food security, sustainability, and environmental protection.
During the seminar and inspired by our partnership with FAO and a previous joint publication like the Activity Book with Good Practices of Teens of the “Zero Hunger Generation”, we took the floor to share the most recent collection of positive actions by young people and organizations from various countries contributing to the goal of Zero Hunger:
- Italy: Educational workshops on peace and integral ecology, fostering a holistic approach to food security and sustainability among young people.
- Korea: A community garden project initiated by local youth, promoting food sustainability and community involvement.
- Ecuador: Advocacy against deforestation and water contamination, as well as local projects aimed at caring for the planet and educating communities on sustainability practices.
- Brazil: The UNIredes initiative, which brings together 74 partner organizations to collaborate to support and assist those most in need, creating a strong social safety net.
- Lebanon: The MadeByNature agribusiness project, which supports a network of around 3,000 local producers, many of whom come from conflict-prone areas. By offering a platform for direct sales of their products, the project helps build a sustainable economy that supports local communities.
These diverse projects demonstrate how young people and organizations across the world are becoming protagonists of change, using their energy and ideas to combat hunger and promote sustainability in their communities. Although the seminar took place earlier this month, its messages are especially relevant as we mark World Food Day 2024. The global hunger crisis requires urgent and unified action—whether through innovative agricultural technologies, stronger international cooperation, or grassroots community efforts. Now is the time to act.
Guided by the principles of universal fraternity and inspired by the words of Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement, we believe that every action, no matter how small, can make a difference. Chiara’s call to “die for humanity” inspires our work to serve the most vulnerable. Through partnerships with both public and private sectors, we continue to build networks of support to meet the needs of those affected by hunger and food insecurity.
During the FAO event, Róisín Reynolds from Taiwan reflected,
“Eliminating hunger isn’t as simple as it might seem; there are countless challenges, and sometimes it feels like we are moving backward. However, what we have witnessed today shows that many people are working tirelessly for the same goal. It’s up to us to join them in the fight against hunger.”
On World Food Day 2024, we renew our commitment to achieving Zero Hunger. By working together, we can build a world where no one goes hungry, and where food systems are fair, sustainable, and inclusive for all.
Always in Unity,
Luzi and Egide
New Humanity NGO