Since 2004, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) has been supporting national governments to reduce the risk of animal health threats that can devastate livelihoods and threaten food safety.
Asia is home to the largest number of people facing hunger worldwide, with 384.5 million individuals—more than half of the global total.
Crises linked to conflict, weather extremes and economic shocks are increasing globally, leading to higher levels of food insecurity. Rural communities who depend on agriculture for their subsistence are the hardest hit.
Collective action across over 150 countries worldwide is what makes World Food Day one of the most celebrated days in the UN calendar. Hundreds of events and outreach activities bring together governments, businesses, civil society organizations, the media, and the public, including many young people.
Vaccines are game changers in animal health, essential for ensuring global food security. Infectious animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) still pose significant threats to farms, carrying devastating economic and public health risks.