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The event dedicated to the ''World Food Day'' held in Tbilisi
The World Food Day organized by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Georgia was held in Tbilisi.
This year, the main slogan for World Food Day 2019 was the protection of geographical indications. The participants set their focus on the traditional Georgian products, (with special features that are linked to the place of origin) which were granted with the GI - Geographical Indication.
The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Levan Davitashvili and Mr. Raymond Jehle, FAO Representative in Georgia made an opening speeches.
“40 years ago, UN member states launched an initiative to celebrate the World Food Day, since then, the World Food Day is regularly celebrated across the world. Today, we celebrate the World Food Day along with the representatives of FAO. This year, the main focus was set on the issues related to the healthy eating, which is a major challenge facing the world today. Thereby, we adress to a number of issues. Healthy nutrition is linked with the safe and healthy food and traditional eating habits, unfortunately, all the aforementioned have almost been forgotten in an urbanizing world. Georgia has a long history of producing traditional products. Today we will discuss our traditions, the need to preserve and maintain them and how to use the potential benefits of healthy food ”Levan Davitashvili said.
According to Raymond Jehle, FAO is taking steps to increase an access to food and raise awareness of healthy diet across the world. Therefore, preservation of local traditional food products, as well as, the support provided to their producers is of utmost importance.
“People engaged in the agricultural field are important players, determining the nutritional quality of a product, as well as an access to affordable and nutritious food products; Knowledge and traditions play a great role in a world, where food products faces challenges such as climate change and limited natural resources ”said Raymond Jehle.
During the event, the photo exhibition of Georgian traditional products and a short film "Unique Georgian Taste" have been held with the support of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, FAO, National Geographic Magazine.
The representatives of the Government of Georgia, Diplomatic Corps accredited in Georgia and international organizations attended the event.
The World Food Day regarded as one of the most important events of the UN was celebrated in over 150 countries this year, comprising a great number of events.
World Food Day is celebrated every year around the world on 16 October in honor of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945. The organization was founded 74 years ago and is represented in 194 countries.