Agrilife24.com:The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and other key partners, organized a national seminar to celebrate World Food Day 2026 under the global theme, “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.” The seminar highlighted how innovation, investment and collective action can accelerate progress towards a future where everyone has access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food.
Held at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) Auditorium in Dhaka, the event brought together government officials, UN agencies, development partners, farmers’ representatives, researchers, youth and private sector stakeholders to explore practical solutions for transforming Bangladesh’s agrifood systems.
Discussions focused on translating agricultural research and innovation into tangible results for farmers and consumers, strengthening access to nutritious food, reducing food loss and waste, and building resilience to climate change and economic pressures, particularly for smallholder farmers.
Mostafa Kamal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, welcomed participants and underscored the importance of collaboration among government institutions, researchers, development partners and the private sector to turn innovative ideas into practical solutions for farmers and food producers.
Mohammed Aminur Rashid, Minister of Agriculture and Ministry of Food and Livestock, Bangladesh, graced the event as Chief Guest. He emphasized that achieving food and nutrition security requires sustained government leadership alongside the active participation of all stakeholders.
“Bangladesh’s food security journey must be driven by innovation, investment and collective responsibility. The Government of Bangladesh is working to strengthen the country’s food and nutrition security. But lasting progress depends on all of us farmers, researchers, entrepreneurs, policymakers and consumers, working together to turn today’s innovations into a better nourished tomorrow,” he said.
Jiaoqun Shi, FAO Representative in Bangladesh, highlighted the urgency of accelerating action to address hunger and malnutrition while making agrifood systems more inclusive, resilient and sustainable. In his remarks he said,
“This year, World Food Day’s message, ‘Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.’ reminds us that the future of food depends on the solutions we develop and scale today. Innovation is not limited to new technologies; it also includes research, traditional knowledge, better policies, local entrepreneurship and stronger partnerships. By connecting these strengths and putting farmers and vulnerable communities at the center, we can build agrifood systems that deliver nutritious food for all while protecting our planet,”.
He also underscored that persistent food insecurity and malnutrition demand faster, coordinated action across the food system, from production and processing to distribution, consumption and waste reduction.
“The food future of Bangladesh depends on investing in the rural people who produce food for the nation. When small-scale farmers can access finance, technology and reliable markets, innovation becomes a powerful force for higher incomes, healthier diets, and greater resilience. IFAD’s partnership with the Government of Bangladesh demonstrates what these investments can achieve. On this World Food Day, our call is clear: invest in rural people today to secure a well-nourished Bangladesh tomorrow,” said Valantine Achancho, Country Director for Bangladesh, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD),
Abu Taher Md. Masud Rana, Secretary, Ministry of Food, emphasized the need to reduce food loss and waste as an essential part of ensuring food security and making better use of available resources.
“Food that is lost or wasted represents a loss of resources, investment and an opportunity to nourish people. Bangladesh needs practical innovations, stronger awareness and coordinated action across the food supply chain to reduce waste and ensure that more safe and nutritious food reaches consumers,” he said.
Nazrul Islam Khan, Political Adviser and Adviser to the Ministry of Agriculture, Prime Minister’s Office, said, “The Government of Bangladesh is committed to advancing agricultural innovation through supportive policies, research and technology, ensuring that new solutions reach farmers, and strengthen domestic food production.”
Dr. Khandakar Md. Iftekharuddaula, Principal Scientific Officer and Head of the Plant Breeding Division at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Gazipur, presented the keynote paper for the seminar.
The event was chaired by Md Selim Khan, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture. He reiterated that, World Food Day unites Bangladesh in a shared commitment to food security. Its nationwide impact lies in turning awareness into action, strengthening partnerships and inspiring innovation for a more sustainable agrifood system.
The seminar reinforced the message that innovation must extend beyond ideas and technologies to deliver measurable improvements in agricultural productivity, food quality, nutrition, market access and environmental sustainability.
About World Food Day
World Food Day, observed every year on 16 October, marks the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 1945. It is a global call to raise awareness about hunger, malnutrition, and the urgent need to build sustainable and inclusive agri food systems. Collective action across 150 countries worldwide, in up to 50 languages, is what makes World Food Day one of the most celebrated days of the UN calendar.
The commemoration seeks to raise awareness about hunger and advocate for a global commitment to achieving food security for all people, addressing the interconnected challenges of hunger, poverty, inequality and climate change.
