Protecting the Food System: World Food Safety Day 2024

Food safety is defined as the conditions and practices that preserve the quality of food to prevent contamination and food borne illnesses. Jointly facilitated by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), World Food Safety Day shines a light on issues within the food system and encourages action at all stages of production. 

The current lack of food safety has implications for global health. One in ten people worldwide (over 600 million people) fall ill every year from contaminated food, with over 40% of foodborne disease burden being carried by children under five. Over 200 diseases are connected to contaminated food, and these illnesses are responsible for 420,000 preventable deaths annually. 

Smallholder farmers play an increasingly important role in food safety. 80% of food in developing regions is grown by smallholders, and with food demand expected to grow by more than 70% by 2050, there is a clear need to install sustainable food systems that work for these communities. 

Pressures to increase levels of food production have resulted in an over reliance and over usage of chemical fertilisers and pesticides over the last decades. These pest management systems have increased the supply of locally produced food, by mitigating against crop pests and diseases which threaten yields. 

However, chemical pesticides are also among the leading causes of death in low and middle income countries. Intrinsically toxic, exposure to chemical pesticides for both humans and the environment is a cause for concern.

Haller works to ensure food safety, sustainably. Through outreach sessions and education days at our demonstration plot we teach hundreds of smallholder farmers how to naturally manage pests without exposing people or the environment to harm. 

Our impact is amplified through the Haller Farmers App, which delivers key information and tools on sustainable agriculture to even the most remote communities. The app has been downloaded in over 150 countries, helping take regenerative agriculture across East Africa and beyond. 

In addition to helping farmers manage food security more sustainably, the app also has a dedicated section on health and diseases. Educating smallholder communities on both prevention and treatment for some of the most common food and waterborne diseases.

This final stage of food preparation can often be the most dangerous. If contaminated water is used to clean produce, disease can easily spread. The first stage of Haller’s work focuses on WASH - securing communities access to safe, reliable sources of water for drinking, agriculture and sanitation. Helping to reduce the spread of waterborne diseases through direct consumption or indirect contact through produce washed in unsafe water sources. 

To learn more about the work we do with smallholder farmers in East Africa and beyond, follow us across social media →