On the 15th of October 2010, the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in Rome organized World Food Day in which Fr. Boby Sebastian (James Tharakunnel), O. Carm., executive secretary of the JPIC Commission of the Order participated.This event was an international one in which the representatives from around 170 countries had their presence and the key note address was given by the President of Rwanda Mr. Paul Kagame, the chief guest of the day. The message of Pope Benedict XIV was read by Monsignor Renato Volante, the permanent observer of the Holy See to FAO. The Director General of FAO presented Agricola Medal (Post-humous) to Dr Norman Borlaug, the man behind the Green Revolution. The theme of this year is “United Against Hunger”. There are one billion people in the world suffering due to hunger and malnutrition and how can we sit ideal? This year’s World Food Day is an opportunity for stakeholders to agree on some concrete ways to high light the “1 Billion Hungry” project as an initiative to raise global awareness, and also an opportunity for individuals to take responsibility as part of the situation to end world hunger.

In the afternoon there was a World Food Day Civil Society Forum in which the activities of the NGO’s and other religious institutes were highly appreciated by the FAO and it was an attempt by FAO to collect the concrete action plans from the Civil Society to fight against hunger.