The Syrian Future Movement affirms that World Food Day—observed internationally on October 16th each year—serves as a vital humanitarian and ethical milestone. Established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 1979, the day commemorates the organization’s founding in 1945. Its primary objective is to raise global awareness regarding the suffering of millions of people due to hunger and malnutrition, and to mobilize collective action toward the eradication of poverty. This year’s theme, “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow,” embodies the values of renewal and shared responsibility, calling for the utilization of innovation and technology to develop sustainable and inclusive agricultural and food systems.
Drawing upon the latest United Nations report, “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World” (SOFI 2026), the Syrian Future Movement notes that approximately 645 million people worldwide face hunger, while more than 2.6 billion—nearly one-third of the global population—cannot afford a healthy and balanced diet.
Furthermore, the Syrian Future Movement expresses deep concern regarding data from the World Food Programme (WFP) for 2026, which indicates that over 7.1 million Syrians are currently experiencing severe food insecurity. Moreover, more than 80% of Syrian families are now unable to consistently secure their basic nutritional needs through a stable and diverse diet. The Syrian Future Movement asserts that this catastrophic deterioration stems from the cumulative impact of years of conflict, the collapse of water and agricultural infrastructure, soaring inflation, the erosion of the local currency’s purchasing power, and the severe consequences of climate change—such as drought and a lack of rainfall.
The Syrian Future Movement maintains that the right to safe and sustainable food is not merely a matter of basic subsistence or humanitarian aid; rather, it is a fundamental pillar of citizenship and human dignity, and an integral component of the civil rights framework upon which the social contract of a future Syria must be built.
Furthermore, we believe that sustainable political stability and the democratic construction of a modern, civilized state cannot be achieved without establishing a robust national food security network—one that protects citizens from being coerced through hunger, and ensures equal opportunity and social justice for all members of society, without discrimination.
Accordingly, we advocate for a forward-looking, visionary approach: shifting from a “mindset of emergency response and temporary aid” toward a “strategy of recovery and sustainable development.” This entails reconstructing the Syrian agricultural sector, supporting youth entrepreneurship, and leveraging smart technology and innovative solutions to achieve national food sovereignty.
The Syrian Future Movement calls upon the international community, UN agencies, and regional partners to intensify their support and cooperation—facilitating the transfer of agricultural technological expertise into Syria, strengthening food value-chain projects, and developing mills and grain silos to ensure the sustainability of production. The Syrian Future Movement also calls for the expedited establishment of an “independent national authority for food and drug safety,” which would operate in partnership with local councils and civil society organizations to implement laboratory-based oversight of products and markets, and to combat commercial fraud.
We urge the launch of innovative funding and training programs—specifically targeting youth and women in rural Syria—aimed at bridging productivity and gender gaps, and empowering future generations to lead the development of smart agricultural systems.
Finally, the Syrian Future Movement appeals to all national and civil forces to prioritize the issue of food and water security, as well as the development of modern irrigation technologies, within their joint agenda. This is essential for safeguarding national resources and protecting the rights of future generations to a civilized, independent, and self-sufficient nation.
