About the Theme

The theme of the conference for this year, ‘Food and Nutrition – Leaving No One Behind’, is the central promise of the UN’s 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development. It is the fulcrum the FAO uses to drive nutrition work globally. It encompasses achieving gender equality, ending hunger and eliminating malnutrition which are the preconditions for breaking cycles of poverty. It recognizes that food security and nutrition are not just about producing more food, but about who has access, how and whether the food accessed is nutritious. It aligns well with the national goals of Suposhit Bharat for ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’ Initiative of India (Well Nourished India for a Developed India). Conceptually, this theme entails ensuring equality in the access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food, regardless of income, location, gender or social status by every individual across the nation. It is similar to the concept of food security, which bridges the gap between ending hunger (SDG 2) and achieving good health and well-being (SDG 3). Food availability and accessibility are frontline factors in the inclusive approach to food security. Food availability along with sufficiency is attained through food technological revolutionary approach. In spite of Government schemes and actions such as POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission), Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Public Distribution System (PDS) and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), food accessibility is still elusive to several segments of the society. This gap between food availability and accessibility might be linked to the fact that malnutrition is not merely a socio-economic problem, but also a behavioural problem at the individual level. The perennial trend of western food choices and junk food preferences endanger our nutritious and traditional food choices. This trend is more a behavioural problem which hampers the right food choices more seriously than reasoned socio-economic factors. It could be effectively resolved by sensitizing people towards right Nutri choices and by ensuring market availability of foods cultivated through smart agriculture and processed into nutrient dense food products through appropriate food processing techniques. This conference attempts to throw light on the strategic actions and reinforcement measures to ensure equal access to healthy food for all people, especially vulnerable and marginalized groups such as children, women, the elderly and low-income communities.

Why This Theme?

Food and Nutrition – Leaving No One Behind is aligned with:

• UN Sustainable Development Goals
• Zero Hunger (SDG 2)
• Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3)
• FAO Nutrition Framework
• Suposhit Bharat
• Vikshit Bharat 2047

Key focus areas:

• Food Security
• Nutrition Equity
• Gender Equality
• Sustainable Food Systems
• Smart Agriculture
• Nutritious Food Access
• Behaviour Change Communication