World Food Day Celebrations in Latin America

Many countries all over the world prepared activities and celebrations for the commemoration of this year's World Food Day (WFD). Several Latin American countries made way for debates and exhibits revolving around the theme of this year's WFD: "International Alliance Against Hunger".

Countries such as Uruguay and Ecuador specifically organized exhibits and food fairs to call on individuals associations and governments to unite forces and combat poverty and hunger. In Uruguay the official activities to celebrate the WFD were launched on 5 September 2003 by the Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Ministry of this country along with the FAO representative during the Expo-Prado exhibit 2003. Celebrations and scheduled events in Ecuador were officially launched on 16 October during a special ceremony and a debate on food security issues. A forum to promote the approval of the Food Security legislation was also held as well as various fairs, contests and parades all related to the WFD.

Among the activities carried out by Bolivia to celebrate the WFD was the creation of a website with useful information on food security and poverty alleviation www.dmabolivia.org. Other activities included the Mapping of the presence of institutions that fight against hunger in Bolivia August-October 2003, National Meeting of Institutions Allied to Fight Against Hunger in Bolivia on 16-17 October and institutional presentation on 16-17 October.

The recently installed FAO representation in Argentina held two main activities to celebrate WFD including a lecture entitled "FAO and the Fight against Hunger" on 15 October in Buenos Aires. The official opening of the FAO representation in this country was held on WFD with the participation of members of the government, university representatives, and heads of other UN agencies in Buenos Aires as well as presidents from various agricultural organizations.

The academic sector in Guatemala dedicated the two first weeks of October to the discussion of the Codex Alimentarius in this country during a workshop held on 3 October. A debate on food security in Guatemala among the schools of agronomy of various universities in this country also paved the way for the WFD celebrations. On 16 October regional and national government representatives as well as the FAO representative in this country inaugurated a broccoli cultivation area and recollection centre in Sololá.

Belize commemorated WFD with a Food, Nutrition and Agriculture Fair held on 16-17 October where farmers showcased their locally produced agricultural products. Sampling of local and indigenous food items, demonstrations of ethnic dishes were also made possible. The entries from the School poster competition with the theme, Food and Nutrition were also displayed during the fair. The activities closed with awarding of prizes to the outstanding farmer, the best booth and the winner of the school poster competition.

Jamaica also lined-up activities for the celebration of the World Food Day. The opening events included a press launch in the Agriculture Ministry on October 1st and a series of interviews and panel discussions from 13-15 October on the role of international and local organizations in the fight against hunger and malnutrition aired on radio and television stations. Finally on the WFD Jamaica hosted a National Ceremony and exhibition with an international food fair.