Dear colleagues and participants,

it is my great pleasure to invite you, this year as well, to participate in the marking of the World Food Day 2018, which will take place on 16th October 2018 in Osijek, Croatia, organized by Croatian Food Agency (HAH) and Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO).

By marking the World Food Day, for the ninth year in the row, we bring in the focus the most important issues addressed by FAO: first of all, eradication of hunger, malnutrition and poverty, but also concern for food safety and food security, and sustainable management of natural resources. It is our intention to put these themes in focus also at a national level and to encourage reflection, discussion … a step further.

Since, this year, the main goal of the World Food Day is on a global level, and it follows the FAO vision #zerohunger: „Our actions are our future “, we have decided to dedicate this event to donating food, because we recognize it as one of the extremely important questions in our country.

Thus, this year, the event will be held under the symbolic slogan „Save the Food“ and it will encompass the Donation System in Croatia: Current Situation, Challenges and Perspective.

It is our goal to encourage a constructive discussion related to this topic and make conclusions which will not be set aside, but will be used as a basis for further actions. All of this, of course, would not have been possible without our patrons who are open for raising these issues and open dialogue.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Ministry of Agriculture for partnership and full support, as well as the Office of President of the Republic of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar Kitarović and Ministry of Health for supporting this event, because, only in synergy, we can make a step forward and concrete changes.

Finally, I invite you, whether you are a representative of the competent authorities or the scientific community, (potential) donor, donor mediator or just a consumer, to come to Osijek.

I am looking forward to welcoming you, and do not forget: Your actions are Your future!

Darja Sokolić, PhD
Director