The official World Food Day ceremony at FAO Headquarters will take place on Friday, October 14, 2016. The Director-General of FAO will be joined by the Prime Minister of Italy Matteo Renzi and keynote speakers, HRH Princess Lalla Hasnaa of Morocco and Macharia Kamau, United Nations Special Envoy on El Niño and Climate. The audience will also hear a special message on food security from His Holiness, Pope Francis and an address by the heads of the other UN Rome-based agencies, IFAD and WFP. Tune in to the World Food Day website at 10.00 on October 14 to watch the ceremony live.

The official celebration of World Food Day at FAO Headquarters on October 14, 2016 will coincide with the second annual meeting of mayors committed to the “Milan Urban Food Policy Pact”. This is the first international protocol that calls for cities to develop sustainable food systems that grant healthy and accessible food to all, protect biodiversity and reduce food waste.

This year at FAO, mayors will discuss their efforts, and share experiences and best practices.

An exhibition will also be held at FAO throughout World Food Week.  Actions to combat climate change and hunger will demonstrate to the public how by changing simple daily habits, we can all make a difference. The exhibition will also feature winners of the World Food Day Contest