On the occasion of todayʼs World Food Day, the two organizations were joined by the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture for a press conference at the convoy’s midway point at Budapest’s Hőrök tere.
“We at the Foodbank believe that eliminating the problem of food waste, and better supporting those in need, are two things that go hand in hand,” said Balázs Cseh, president of the Hungarian Foodbank Association. “We also want to highlight the environmental, social and ethical aspects of food waste.” In 2014, the Foodbank Association saved 1,600 tons of food and distributed it to food-insecure households in Hungary.
“Social protection and agriculture – breaking the cycle of rural poverty” is the theme of World Food Day 2015, and the topic of a new report released this week by FAO. Vladimir Rakhmanin, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, presented highlights of the report.
“Here is a study that shows how social protection can play a protective role, allowing people to access food in times of crisis, averting deeper deprivation,” Rakhmanin said. “Social protection can also have a transformative function in the lives of the poor, by shifting their focus from day-to-day survival to planning and preparing for the future. It can also change power relations within households, empowering women for example, and strengthening the ability of the poor to help themselves.”
“Facilitating access to work is one of the most important steps in the fight against hunger and poverty, while at the same time social protection programs and social assistance are essential for those in need,” said Katalin Tóth, Deputy State Secretary of Hungary’s Ministry of Agriculture.
Tóth highlighted the Ministry’s cooperation with the Hungarian Food Bank Association. “In the framework of the so-called Élelmiszer Érték Fórum (“Food is Precious” Forum),” she said, “our Ministry and the Association are working jointly on innovative solutions and improved legislation in order to reduce food waste.”
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