This year, World Food Day shines a spotlight on the vital role that water plays in life and the production of food. It’s a reminder that billions of people live in places where water quality is a concern or where the demand for water surpasses its availability. This is especially challenging for smallholder farmers who produce much of the world’s food. Without reliable water sources, crops and livestock cannot thrive, food production becomes very limited and people’s health suffers.

Clean water is the foundation of a sustainable food supply—impacting the overall health of communities worldwide. Now more than ever, we need to be intentional with how we manage our water usage so we don’t run out of this essential resource.

On October 16, World Food Day, raise awareness about how essential water is to achieving food security.

Did you know?

• 2.4 billion people live in water-stressed countries.
• Agriculture accounts for 72% of global freshwater use. Another 16% is used for households and services, while 12% is used by industries.
• Global water demand for agriculture is expected to increase by 35% by 2050.
• In the past decade, flood-related disasters have increased by 134%. The number and duration of droughts increased by 29%.

Together, We Respond

PWS&D works with our global partners to help people in marginalized countries access clean and safe water. Access to water helps families grow food, improving livelihoods and, ultimately, their quality of life. Additionally, communities with access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation facilities have the necessary tools to help prevent the spread of waterborne diseases. In Guatemala, PWS&D partners are helping families access household water treatment systems for clean drinking water and storage tanks to ensure water supply when dry weather or drought occurs.  

This World Food Day, respond with us.

• Use the Canadian Foodgrains Bank’s World Water Day worship resource, which includes prayers, scripture readings, a children’s feature, song suggestions and opportunities for advocacy to better understand the importance of water.
• Find out how you can be one of the thousands of Canadian who are helping to reduce hunger in the world by joining a Growing Project.
• Canadian Foodgrains Bank has a variety of educational and prayer resources available at Until All Are Fed.
• Place the WFD 2023 poster in your window, beside your desk, or in your church lobby so people walking by can know it’s World Food Day. and become curious to find out more.
• Download a PowerPoint slide to add to your worship service.

More ways to be involved:

• Host a fundraising event to support our programs that improve the long-term food security of families, help communities access clean, safe drinking water or provide food after conflict or disaster. Check out the new Gifts of Change for gift ideas!
• Send a letter to the Minister of Finance, letting her know that you care about climate change and hunger.

How YOU can take action locally:

• Reduce your food waste: producing food means using water, and wasting food means wasted water.
• Conserve water: be conscious of you water usage.
• Stay informed: staying informed is a great way to stay updated with initiatives and advocacy opportunities you can be involved in.

PWS&D is a member of Canadian Foodgrains Bank, a coalition of 15 church-based agencies working together with the common goal of eliminating global hunger.