‘Water is life, water is food’ |20 October 2023

World Food day is celebrated annually on October 16 to raise awareness about hunger and malnutrition globally. It also highlights the importance of food security and ensuring access to nutritious foods for everyone. In Seychelles we usually extend it to a Food Week with different activities planned by the Agricultural sector throughout the week.

The theme for this year’s World Food Day 2023 is ‘Water is Life, Water is Food. Leave No One Behind’. This implies that we should value the importance and contribution that water brings to us not only in the sustenance of life but also as part of our very existence on earth. This in light of the fact that there is inequity in water distribution globally.

Water is ranked second after oxygen as essential for human life. In fact, life on earth would not be possible without water. About two thirds of our planet’s surface is water; almost half of the human body is water; and water is needed for food production and for the livelihoods of many.

Although many people may think of water as an infinite resource, it is constantly under threat. Therefore, this year’s theme wants us all to be more aware of how we manage water usage amid increasing global population, continued globalisation, economic proliferation and climate change.

As we celebrate this year’s World Food Day and Food Week, let’s reflect about how we use water in our daily lives and how to make better use of this precious commodity moving forward especially when so many people around the world do not have ready access to potable water.

Water as a source of life

The functions of water in the body

Water is needed by every single cell in the human body and is crucial for many of our bodily functions. Its roles spans across different systems in the body.

Our body fluids such as saliva and blood are made up of water. Saliva produced by salivary glands is important in lubricating and breaking down the foods that we eat to make it easier to swallow and it also helps with our oral hygiene. Our blood is 90% water and is responsible for the transportation of oxygen, nutrients and other bioactive compounds to where they need to go in the body.

Water is important for the digestion and absorption of food and also for the removal of waste from the body in various ways such as urination, defecation and sweating. The kidneys are responsible for filtering the blood and the waste is removed via urine. Having adequate fluid intake is important for promoting good bowel health by ensuring good bowel movement (removal of faeces) and preventing constipation.

Water is needed for the regulation of body temperature through perspiration or sweating. Sweating is the process used by the body to keep it cool when the temperature goes up either from exercise or hot weather.  Water also acts as a protection for your joints, tissues and organs from external shocks and helps to lubricate your airways, digestive tract and joints via mucous.

Having enough water can help prevent dehydration which can happen when you are not drinking enough fluids especially water. Because water is important for so many bodily functions as outlined above, dehydration can be dangerous if left untreated. The best way to avoid dehydration is to ensure adequate water intake by drinking water throughout the day.

Water for food and livelihoods

Aquatic food system

Water from oceans, lakes, rivers and creeks is home to millions of aquatic organisms, from plants to animals. Aquatic ecosystems are diverse and contributes to food and nutrition security in many countries like Seychelles, where fish is a staple.

Fish is largely recognised for its extensive nutritional profile including high quality protein, omeg-3 fatty acids, vitamins like B12 and D, minerals like zinc, iron and selenium. It is a must therefore that we preserve this natural resource as it has the potential to prevent malnutrition.

But when we look further we find that marine food systems also have an importance for the livelihoods of many people. This includes fishers, fish farmers, fish processors as well as their families and communities who depend on them. Their contribution goes beyond just nourishment but contributes to economic proliferation at a national level and cultural influences on a global scale.

Unfortunately, many of those who depend on aquatic ecosystems for a living are suffering the effects of pollution, ecosystem degradation, unsustainable practices like overfishing and climate change. Although consumers are constantly reminded that certain fish species are on the brink of extinction or have limited supplies, we are not doing enough to ensure the sustainability of the aquatic food system for future generations. 

Agricultural food system