Food is more than just survival; it is the essence of life, a necessary source of nutrition, and, in many cultures, a symbol of the sacred. In Indian culture, food is treasured. We believe that what sustains life deserves our highest veneration. “Annam Brahma” is a Sanskrit term that identifies food with Brahman, the ultimate truth. This attitude is a strong reminder of the importance of every grain of rice, every crumb of bread and every drop of nutrition. The paradox of hunger and food waste in a world that produces food.
World Food Day: A Call to Action for Universal Access to Healthy Nutrition
Every year, World Food Day is celebrated on 16 October, a day that commemorates the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in 1945. 2026 Theme Announced: “Innovate Today. The call to “Nourish tomorrow. Transforming food production and distribution systems is necessary to meet the demands of a growing population, a changing climate, and dwindling agricultural resources.
The purity of each individual kernel
“Indian culture teaches us to not waste food.” Age-old Customs Encourage Mindful Cooking and eating habits; simple principles reflect deep commitment to Sustainability and Compassion.
Food is a thing of more than a commodity, more than purchasing, selling, and throwing away. It is the hard labour of farmers, the riches of the land, the availability of water and the combined effort of many that bring it to our tables. Food waste is actually a resource waste!
Modern Abundance Blunts Our Relationship with Food. Lavish parties, overflowing buffet tables, buying sprees and the thoughtless dumping of trash are now the norm. Millions struggle to have one healthy meal per day. The difference is morally wrong.
The message must be simple: save food, save lives. Every household, restaurant, institution, and community should adopt responsible food practices. Surplus edible food can be channelled through safe food-sharing networks and food banks, subject to appropriate hygiene and food-safety standards. Communities must also develop a collective resolve to ensure that no one in their neighbourhood goes hungry. Compassion should begin close to home.
The future of food is innovation
Respecting traditional wisdom does not mean using only traditional farming methods. Innovation is needed. Food systems are under unprecedented strain from population growth, declining arable land, water scarcity, soil degradation, and climate change.
This year’s theme: ‘Innovate now. “Nourish tomorrow” demands a more holistic view of agriculture. Farmers can do more with less through precision farming, artificial intelligence, drones, climate-resilient crop types, vertical farming and efficient irrigation. Advances in biotechnology and better storage facilities can cut crop losses and boost food security.
Emerging technologies such as cellular agriculture, molecular farming and three-dimensional food printing should also be popularised among the farming community. Cellular agriculture produces plant and animal meals from cultured cells, and molecular farming uses plants to produce useful proteins and other substances. 3D food printing enables personalisation of nutrition and preparation of personalised meals. Though these technologies are not a panacea for issues associated with conventional agriculture, cost, safety, scalability, and environmental impacts need to be carefully considered. But they could play important roles in many food systems.
Technological Innovation should also reach small and marginal farmers who are the backbone of Indian agriculture. Scientific discoveries will be of little use unless they are economical, accessible and adaptable to the local circumstances. The journey from discovery to practical solutions requires a mix of research institutions, universities, start-ups and government agencies.
Turning farming into an aspiration
Another concern is young people’s waning interest in agriculture. Many still see success as a white-collar job in a city. Farming is often seen as physically demanding, financially insecure, and socially less respected.
This attitude must change. Today, agriculture is increasingly linked to robots, biotechnology, data science, food processing, logistics and entrepreneurship. Young people can be agricultural innovators, agri-tech entrepreneurs, food scientists, and sustainable agriculture experts. Universities should promote multi-disciplinary agricultural education, incubation infrastructure and start-ups that make farming profitable and intellectually rewarding.
Attention should also be given to the quality of the food being served across the country. Food safety, packaging, storage, and transportation should receive greater attention, especially for food delivered through public catering systems like IRCTC. Meals supplied on trains should be hygienically prepared, properly packed, kept uncontaminated and delivered under suitable conditions. Quality monitoring should also be made stringent in our food distribution chains, including the latest cloud kitchens
Shared responsibility
Ultimately, food security is not just the responsibility of farmers or governments. It requires collective effort from producers, scientists, policymakers, corporations, educational institutions, and consumers.
On this World Food Day, let us harness the wisdom of our traditions and the promise of modern science. Let’s appreciate all the grains, eat responsibly, support our farmers, and embrace the innovations that make food production sustainable and equitable
If food is divine, wasting it fails to honour the very source of life. Let us cook only what we need, eat only what we can, share what we have, and ensure that hunger does not persist amid abundance. A nourished society is not merely one that produces enough food; it is one that ensures everyone has a fair opportunity to eat.
(The Author is an adjunct faculty member at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, IISc campus, Bangalore, and the Dean -Academic Affairs, Garden City University, Bangalore and E-mail: [email protected])
