22 June 2012: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has launched the “Zero Hunger Challenge,” with the goals of boosting economic growth, reducing poverty and protecting the environment. Ban called on farmers, businesspeople, scientists, civil society and consumers to work together to: achieve 100% access to adequate food all year round; end malnutrition in pregnancy and early childhood; make all food systems sustainable; increase growth in the productivity and income of smallholders, particularly women; and to achieve a zero rate of food waste.

Launched on 22 June 2012, at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Challenge is supported by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Bank and Bioversity International.

José Graziano da Silva, Director-General, FAO, said the Secretary-General’s objectives coincide with those of FAO and its partners, including promoting smallholder farmers’ productivity, establishing sustainable food systems and cutting food waste. [UN Press Release] [FAO Press Release]