Pope Francis has called for urgent action on the world’s ever-increasing food waste, noting that it can be used to feed the hungry instead of ending up in dumpsites.
In his message to the participants of the 47th session of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), he highlighted the dangers of the heartbreaking dichotomy related to food.
“On the one hand, millions of people are plagued by hunger, while on the other hand, great insensitivity is seen in the waste of food,” he said.
The Holy Father stressed how rural communities suffer the most when the world fails to pay attention to the proper rationing of food.
“Indigenous peoples are also victims of hardship, deprivation, and abuse... their knowledge of natural resource management and their connection to the environment can help conserve biodiversity,” he said.
Moreover, Pope Francis underlined the need to provide women with the proper support to address the food waste problem, which, he explained, comprises more than half of the food-insecure households in rural areas.
He warned that this must be addressed urgently as “we are pushing the world to dangerous limits” with the climate crisis, the plundering of natural resources, and countless conflicts that threaten people’s livelihoods.
“This reality moves us to confront existing problems, particularly hunger and poverty, not by settling for abstract strategies or unattainable commitments, but by cultivating the hope that springs from collective action,” said the pope.
Pope Francis expressed his gratitude to the IFAD for “striving for a better world where no one's dignity is violated and fraternity becomes a reality, a source of joy and hope for all.”
The IFAD is an international financial institution and specialized United Nations agency based in Rome, the UN’s food and agriculture hub.
Since 1978, they have provided US$23.2 billion in grants and low-interest loans to invest in rural people to help them achieve food security, build resilient communities, expand businesses, and take charge of their development. -Luke Godoy
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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