The main event marking 2026 World Food Day and National Food Security Publicity Week in Huaihua kicked off on October 16 at Bubugao Zhonghuan Plaza.

This year’s World Food Day theme is “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.” The publicity week is themed “Implement the Whole-Grain Action Plan to Promote Food Conservation and Loss Reduction, Nutrition and Health.” The event was jointly hosted by six departments: the Huaihua Municipal Development and Reform Commission (Grain and Strategic Reserves Bureau), the Municipal Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau, the Municipal Education Bureau, the Municipal Government Offices Administration, the Huaihua Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, and the Huaihua Women’s Federation. Activities were rolled out simultaneously at city and county levels. Organizers used government social media accounts, village loudspeakers and community publicity boards to highlight local rice-farming culture, carry forward the “seed spirit” of Academician Yuan Longping and share Huaihua’s stories about hybrid rice, while stressing practicality and thrift throughout the campaign and sought to avoid formalism.

At the event, 11 grain and edible oil processing companies from across the city showcased high-quality grain, edible oil and whole-grain products. Staff explained how to identify grain and oil products and offered consultations and tastings. At the main venue, organizers printed 4,000 publicity materials and distributed more than 2,000 booklets, while answering inquiries from members of the public on 1,000 occasions.

Meanwhile, municipal departments organized activities tailored to their respective responsibilities, carrying forward Yuan Longping’s dedication to advancing grain production. The Municipal Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau incorporated food security education into agricultural production, farmland protection and consumer guidance. Agricultural technicians went into fields and villages to help uphold the farmland protection red line and encourage the public to make informed choices about grain and edible oil. The Municipal Education Bureau held a themed activity titled “Good Food, Good Times: Clean Your Plate and Get a Gift.” Through class meetings, “clean plate” challenges and farming experiences, it encouraged young people to value and avoid wasting food. The Municipal Government Offices Administration used electronic screens in government service halls to promote the campaign and encourage people to clean their plates and adopt greener office practices. The Huaihua Committee of the Communist Youth League of China held themed group lessons under the banner “Young People Safeguard China’s Grain” and organized young volunteers to give talks in urban and rural communities, reaching more than 27,000 young people. The Municipal Women’s Federation held parent-child activities under the theme “Little Hands Join Big Hands to Save Grain,” encouraging families to help build a broader consensus on food conservation.

Following the city’s example, counties, county-level cities and districts organized activities in line with local priorities and the characteristics of their grain and edible oil industries. They brought together various organizations to hold public education sessions, “clean plate” activities, grain-storage demonstrations and volunteer programs promoting appreciation of food and grain conservation in public squares, markets, schools and communities. According to statistics, the campaign distributed a total of 40,000 publicity materials across the city, put up more than 150 display boards and over 180 banners, and received 15,000 public inquiries. The activities helped bring food security information directly to communities.

Huaihua will continue to develop the whole-grain industry and promote grain conservation and loss reduction across the entire supply chain. It will also make food security education a regular effort, carry forward Yuan Longping’s mission and dream of one day enjoying the shade beneath rice plants, and strengthen grain security of neighboring provinces.

(Translated by Yang Hong)