As Botswana prepares to commemorate World Food Day on 16 October, the focus will be on how innovation, knowledge and collective action can help build more resilient food systems.
World Food Day is observed annually on October 16 to mark the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945. In Botswana, FAO is working with the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture to mark the day in Moshupa under the theme, “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.”
According to Lesedi Modo-Mmopelwa, Assistant Representative (Programme) for FAO in Botswana, the day provides an opportunity to reflect on the importance of food and the people who work to ensure it reaches communities.
“It brings us back to something fundamental to our lives, which is access to safe, nutritious and affordable food,” she said.
She said the occasion was also an opportunity to recognise farmers and other people working across the food system, particularly as they confront challenges such as climate change, water scarcity and limited access to technology.
The 2026 theme highlights the role of science, technology and innovation in making agrifood systems more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable.
For Botswana, Modo-Mmopelwa said innovation should not be understood only as modern technology. Traditional knowledge developed by farmers and communities over generations, including approaches to conserving crops, managing water and caring for soils, also has an important role to play.
“The aim is not to replace traditional knowledge with modern knowledge. It is about bringing the two together,” she said.
Young people, she added, have a particularly important role in shaping the future of agriculture. Their skills in technology, data, digital communications and entrepreneurship can introduce new ways of producing, processing and marketing food.
Technologies such as drones can help farmers monitor crops, identify areas requiring attention and improve the use of agricultural inputs. Young people can also use climate information, digital platforms and modern farming techniques to support decision-making, while creating businesses in areas such as food processing, logistics, marketing and value addition.
This combination of technology, science and traditional knowledge could help make agriculture more productive and attractive to a new generation.
World Food Day will also shine a light on what FAO describes through its Food Heroes campaign as the everyday people who help bring food from farms to tables. They include farmers, fishers, transporters, shopkeepers, chefs and young activists who work, often behind the scenes, to sustain food systems and promote more sustainable ways of producing and consuming food.
The Moshupa commemoration is expected to bring together about 300 people, including government leaders, farmers, village leaders, partners and community members. It will feature an essay competition involving six junior school learners, with the top three to be recognised, as well as exhibitions, food displays and farm produce showcasing local food heroes.
The event is expected to provide more than a celebration. It will be an opportunity to demonstrate that building a food-secure Botswana is a shared responsibility — one that requires innovation, knowledge and the contribution of people across the food system.
For those unable to attend, the event will be livestreamed on the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture’s Facebook page, with updates also shared on FAO Botswana’s X page.
