By Heidi Kuhn, World Food Prize Laureate 2023, and Ambassador Gertrude Angote, Kenyan Permanent Representative to UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)

‘Foods’ stands for diversity, nutrition, affordability, and safety. A greater diversity of nutritious foods should be available in our fields, in our markets, and on our tables, for the benefit of all.

As we gather on World Food Day 2024, we find ourselves confronted with two of humanity’s most profound challenges—hunger and conflict. The theme this year, "Building Peace; Combating Hunger," reminds us that food security and peace are not merely intertwined—they are foundational to each other. Without peace, hunger persists. Without food security, peace is fragile. This year, we are called to reflect on the urgent need to address both, and to recognize that in doing so, we can change the trajectory of millions of lives.

The Injustice of Hunger in a World of Plenty

October 16, 2024, marks World Food Day, and as a global community, we all need to get involved!  Governments, the private sector, farmers, academia, civil society and individuals need to work together to ensure all people have access to enough diverse, nutritious and safe foods. We all have a role to play to tackle inequality and poverty, and make healthy food choices to increase their availability, reduce food waste and protect the environment. 

This week, two women from Africa and America met for the first time to discuss the importance of respecting the seeds we have in common, rather than those which separate us.

We both joined forces at the World Agroforestry Centre in Nairobi, Kenya—the epicenter of soil and excellence in land restoration and transformative landscapes.  Together, we recognized that we live in a world where there are an estimated 110 million landmines in over 60 countries, and the planting of dormant seeds of hatred only yields a lethal harvest for future generations.  As women, we bear the seeds of life, and we are standing together in solidarity on behalf of mothers around the world who must harvest fruits on war-torn lands and protect their children from walking the agricultural fields which once fed their forefathers.

It is a tragic irony that in a world capable of producing enough food to nourish every human being, over 735 million people still go to bed hungry. Hunger today is not just a symptom of food shortages—it is an outcome of inequality, poverty, and most critically, conflict. Wars and violence displace farmers, destroy fields, and sever supply chains, leaving communities broken and dependent on fragile aid systems. Yet hunger itself is a driver of conflict. Communities grappling with food insecurity are often more vulnerable to unrest, instability, and violence. When families cannot feed themselves, despair can fuel conflict over resources like water, land, and food—basic needs that should never be the cause of strife. From Syria to South Sudan, from Yemen to Ethiopia, the brutal interplay of hunger and conflict is on stark display.

Food as a Force for Peace

The fight against hunger is about more than ending suffering; it is about building lasting peace. The ability to grow, harvest, and share food binds communities together, fostering cooperation and trust. Agriculture, often the first casualty of conflict, is also one of the most powerful tools for rebuilding lives and nations. Sustainable, inclusive food systems offer a pathway to recovery and reconciliation.

In fragile regions, food security can be a bridge to peace. In the Horn of Africa, for example, rural communities once ravaged by decades of conflict have begun to rebuild through cooperative farming initiatives, giving ex-combatants and displaced families a new beginning. Similarly, in the agropastoral part of Kenya, agricultural programs that provide both food and employment are offering an alternative to violence for young people caught in a cycle of conflict.

Food is not just a necessity for survival—it is a fundamental human right, and it is a cornerstone of stability. When communities have enough to eat, they are more likely to live in harmony, less likely to be torn apart by the specter of conflict over dwindling resources.

Climate Change: A New Front in the Fight Against Hunger

As we look ahead, one of the most pressing threats to both peace and food security is climate change. Droughts, floods, and changing weather patterns are destabilizing agricultural systems, particularly in the world’s most vulnerable regions. As climate impacts worsen, food production becomes less predictable, and communities already on the edge of hunger are pushed into crisis.

Addressing climate-induced food insecurity requires innovative, sustainable solutions. From drought-resistant crops to regenerative farming techniques, we must support farmers in building resilience to climate shocks. But beyond technical solutions, global solidarity is essential. Wealthier nations must step up to support those most affected by climate change, contributing resources, technology, and political will to ensure that no one is left behind.

We learned from the late Nobel Prize Laureate, Wangari Maathai, that planting trees is the first step in combating poverty. This World Food Day, we are proud to partner with the African Orphan Crops Consortium (AOCC) in planting a Jackfruit Tree—the largest of all fruits and a rich source of vitamins, micronutrients, and antioxidants—at the World Agroforestry Centre in Nairobi. Joining the ceremony will be Dr. Abraham Korir Sing’Oei, Principal Secretary of Foreign Affairs in the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.  Simultaneously, Roots of Peace will plant a Dogwood Tree—a symbol of renewal and purity--at the Embassy of Portugal in Washington, D.C. The Agricultural Diplomatic Corps representing all Embassies will join us, as a tribute to our global commitment to plant the Roots of Peace on Earth.  As humanity, we share the same soil and soul, and our joint efforts across continents are a symbol of life amidst the growing thunder of war. 

While this may be deemed as a small effort, we maintain hope in planting a seed of life on the one earth we share may serve as a global inspiration for peace.  We hope that this may be a unified symbol to respect the soil we have been given as shepherds of the earth which feeds us, as each tree planted feeds future generations and sequesters the carbon to fight climate change.

The country of Kenya has a goal to plant 15 billion trees by 2030.  While this may seem like a daunting task, we are furthering this vison on World Food Day, as we invite global citizens to join us in planting a Roots of Peace ‘Tree of Life’ to provide nutritious crops that will feed future generations of children. 

A Global Call to Action: The Power of Unity

World Food Day is more than just a moment to reflect—it is a call to action. It is a call to unite as a global community to combat hunger and build peace in even the most challenging circumstances. The pandemic, environmental disasters like what we just experienced on the US coast, and ongoing conflicts in Africa and the Middle East have shown how interconnected we all are. Food shortages in one region ripple across the globe, leading to higher prices, economic instability, and increased migration. Our response must be equally global.

Governments, businesses, NGOs, and individuals must work together to build resilient food systems that can withstand both conflict and climate change. We need policies that protect smallholder farmers, who produce most of the world’s food, and that ensure equitable access to land and resources. We need to invest in education, technology, and infrastructure, so that communities vulnerable to hunger can thrive instead of just survive.  Roots of Peace is a proud Champion of VACS—Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils. 

But it’s not just about policy—it’s about human connection. Each of us has a role to play in this fight. Whether it’s reducing food waste, supporting fair trade, or advocating for stronger climate action, our everyday choices can help create a world where no one must suffer from hunger.

Hungry for Change, Hungry for Peace

At the heart of this fight is hope. Hope for a world where no child has to go to bed hungry, where farmers have the resources they need to grow food sustainably, and where peace flourishes because communities have the security that comes with food sovereignty. As we stand at this critical crossroads in history, we must ask ourselves: What kind of world do we want to build?

The answer is clear. We must build a world where peace and food security go hand in hand. A world where hunger is not a weapon of war but a relic of the past. A world where every person can access their basic human right to food in dignity.

On this World Food Day 2024, let us commit to building peace by combating hunger—not just in words, but in actions. Let us rise to meet the challenges of our time with unity, compassion, and an unyielding belief that a hunger-free, peaceful world is within our reach.  We are hungry for peace, and together, we can achieve it.

The African Orphan Crops Consortium (AOCC), is a coalition 45-organizations-strong, including the African Union, the United Nations FAO, and the World Agroforestry Centre, its home base.  The AOCC is mobilizing human capacity and fosters development of improved varieties of 101 nutritious traditional African food crops, including Jackfruit, for smallholder farmers.  See https://africanorphancrops.org/ for more information.

Together, we seek to plant peace, provision, and prosperity through agriculture in Africa and worldwide.