World Food Day 2025: Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future

World Food Day 2025 is being marked under the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” calling for collective action to end hunger and promote sustainable food systems. Across South Africa, communities, farmers, and organisations are uniting to highlight the urgent need to grow, share, and support food initiatives that ensure no one goes hungry.

In Gauteng, MEC Vuyiswa Ramokgopa reminded residents that hunger remains a pressing challenge affecting over 2 million people in the province. She urged communities to take responsibility by contributing to local food security efforts. “We must act together. From backyard gardens to school food projects, we are working to grow food where it’s needed most. But we must go further by sharing, planting, and supporting one another so that no one goes to bed hungry,” said Ramokgopa.

The Department of Agriculture has been driving programmes that promote household and community food production. These include urban farming initiatives, youth agricultural training, and partnerships with schools to strengthen nutrition through food gardens. These projects have already helped many families supplement their diets with fresh produce while reducing dependence on purchased food.

Community organisations across Gauteng are also expanding feeding schemes and teaching sustainable gardening skills. Local cooperatives have been established to connect small-scale farmers with markets, ensuring surplus food reaches those in need instead of going to waste.

Experts emphasize that fighting hunger requires a long-term commitment to improving food accessibility and affordability. Investing in local food systems, reducing waste, and supporting smallholder farmers are central to achieving this goal. The World Food Day 2025 theme encourages people to see food security not as a government responsibility alone but as a shared national priority.

Events marking the day included exhibitions, workshops, and community planting drives across the province. These gatherings celebrated innovation in agriculture and raised awareness about nutrition, climate resilience, and sustainable land use.

World Food Day 2025 serves as a reminder that hunger can be defeated through cooperation and compassion. By working hand in hand, South Africans can build a stronger, fairer, and more resilient food system that delivers better food and a better future for all.