Safe and adequate food access should be ensured from the field to the table.

Cyprus International University (CIU) Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies Vice Dean Prof. Dr. Ahsen Işık Özgüven, in a speech for World Food Day, drew attention to the importance of doing the necessary work to ensure safe and sufficient food access from farm to table, all over the world.

Expressing that awareness of food safety should be increased in the society, Özgüven said, “This issue should be supported with education starting from kindergarten. Also, the projects of relevant ministries, civil and private organizations on food and food safety should be increased”.

It was mentioned by Prof. Dr. Özgüven that the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), pointed out that the world population will increase by 30% by 2050, and along with this the agricultural production need will increase from 8.4 billion tons to 13.5 billion tons.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, there is a problem of accessing safe food all over the world.
Emphasizing that there has been a lack of access to safe food and hunger experienced all over the world due to the recent epidemic, Özgüven also noted that some diseases arise due to excessive consumption in some areas, while there is also a situation of food waste in other areas.

It was stated by Özgüven that the whole world is trying to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and its side effects. She also added that this year will be an extraordinary 75th anniversary for FAO. In this context, Özgüven said that hundreds of events will be organized collectively among 150 countries to shed light on the importance of healthy eating and increase public awareness, and stated that one of the events is a poster contest specially organized for World Food Day.

Finally, Prof. Dr. Özgüven stated that agriculture is an indispensable sector for every country, regardless of the welfare level, and said, "The way to healthy nutrition and development can only be provided through production, covering quality production that includes food safety as well."