A United Nations Celebration for Every Day

Everyone loves a celebration, and it seems now that there is an obscure celebration every day. There are, however, days that are often overlooked that may not be as sexy as days titled “World Chocolate Day (July 7th)”. Every year at the United Nations General Assembly the member states of the United Nations work to create and officiate a series of days and years meant to raise awareness on issues affecting the global community. Each international day is brought about by a resolution in the General Assembly and then voted on by the member states as something they can support. Each resolution explains the importance of the day or year and what is hoped to be achieved through its celebration. 

While each day is an important reminder, for the work Emerging ag does we would like to highlight the days and themed years below.

International Years

2020

International Year of Plant Health – A year meant to raise global awareness of the importance on plant health in protecting biodiversity, the environment and ultimately ending hunger in all forms.

2021 

International Year of Fruits and Vegetables – An awareness campaign on the nutritional value of all fruits and vegetables and incorporating them into a healthy diet.

2022 

International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture – 2022 will recognize the importance of small-scale fishermen and women. These individuals compromise approximately 90% of the fisheries work force. 

2024

International Year of Camelids – Camelids are a mammal belonging to the camel family. For approximately 90 countries in the world, camelids are the main means of subsistence for families. They provide in the form of livelihoods, transport and food security.

International Days 

10 February 

World Pulses Day – Pulses come from the legume family and consist of dried edible seeds including kidney beans, lima beans, chickpeas, and more. This day is meant to raise awareness of the health benefits of including pulses in everyday meals.

21 March

International Day of Forests – Whether recognized or not, forests are a part of our everyday life. This international day highlights the ways we interact with them and their importance in combating climate change.

22 March

World Water Day – UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the importance of World Water Day when he said “Our bodies, our cities and our industries, our agriculture and our ecosystems all depends on it. Water is a human right. Nobody should be denied access.”

20 May 

World Bee Day – Bees have been increasingly under threat from human activity and this day dedicated to them spotlights the importance of them and all other pollinators. Their ability to pollinate plants allows for food and plant reproduction, which ultimately contributes to world food security.

22 May 

International Day for Biological Diversity – Biological diversity encourages and promotes the diversity of species, climates, genetics and landscapes across the planet. The loss of any kind of diversity would have immense ramifications on food production, tourism, recreations, and resources overall.

1 June 

World Milk Day – World Milk Day provides an opportunity to showcase the dairy sector and their importance as a global food.

5 June 

International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing – As the global population continues to grow fish have emerged as a previously untapped resource. However, governments are having trouble keeping up the sustainability of fishing with the number of people who are participating in illegal, unreported and unregulated activities.

7 June 

World Food Safety Day – Food Safety is the lack of bacteria, chemicals, and pesticides, among other potential hazards in the food we consume. It plays a critical role in allowing the food chain to stay undisrupted. Every year approximately 3 million people die from reasons related to unsafe food.

12 September 

United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation – South-South cooperation indicates a partnership between the peoples and countries of the South. Together, the hope is that they would be able to promote economies, technological capabilities, and self-reliance of developing countries.

5 December 

World Soil Day – World Soil Day highlights the importance of healthy soil in our food production. Everyday soil erosion is becoming a larger problem around the world, a problem that can lead to a devastating loss of up to 50% of crop yields per year. The world’s food security depends on the need for healthy soil. 

While the list of international days and years is extensive, it is important to recognize all of them and celebrate in turn. We must raise awareness for a variety of topics and become more educated on the issues surrounding our global climate. Plus, everyone loves a good celebration!

You can view the UN’s complete list of international days here.