Today 1 billion people are undernourished, 1 billion are malnourished while another billion are overfed or obese.

By 2050, projections show that we will need to feed 9 billion- an additional 2 billion people- with less water, arable land, and an unstable climate. This will require us to transform the way we grow, produce, and eat.

Background

The Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food Security Community of Practice in ADB will celebrate World Food Day to raise awareness on food security, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture. These include:

• seminar with Julian Cribb, author of "The Coming Famine: The Global Food Crisis and What We Can Do to Avoid It," on 16 October at 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon, Executive Dining Room Coffee Lounge;
• food bazaar and exhibit featuring local sustainable produce and products for sampling and sale;
• purchasing a "Table for Two" meal to finance one nutritious school meal in a developing country; and
• Sustainable Menu (food that improves health for people and planet) at ADB’s Executive Dining Room and cafeteria.

Objectives

At the end of the activity, participants will:

• understand the issues surrounding food security, particularly the need to double global food production – with far less water land, oil and in a climate increasingly hostile to traditional food production,
• realize the vast challenges and equally vast opportunities ahead for global food production,
• understand the relevant issues regarding nutrition and obesity, and
• learn about and purchase products from local farmers and agricultural cooperatives.

Target Participants

ADB staff, as well as invited representatives from the Philippine civil society, government, development community, private sector, academia and the diplomatic community.

Participation by invitation only.

Resource Speakers

Julian Cribb, author of "The Coming Famine: The Global Food Crisis and What We Can Do to Avoid It", explores the question of whether we can feed humanity through the mid-century peak in numbers and food demand. He is the guest speaker during World Food Day at ADB held in Manila on 15-16 October 2012.