The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Anġlu Farrugia, opened a special plenary session in Parliament on the occasion of World Food Day, warning that hunger remains one of the greatest contradictions of the modern era. He emphasized that despite the world's technological and scientific progress, hunger and food waste continue to represent a global failure of solidarity and justice, as millions of tons of food are discarded each year while millions of others still wait for a simple plate of food to survive.

The Speaker stated that the problem of hunger is not a result of nature, but rather the lack of wisdom and political will to share what we have. He mentioned situations such as those in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gaza, the Sahel, and other countries where hunger is not only caused by droughts or floods but also by armed conflicts and obstacles to humanitarian aid. He added that even in wealthy societies, food waste has become part of everyday comfort, showing how scarcity and abundance are two sides of the same coin.

In his speech, the Speaker stressed the need for innovation and technology to be used with a sense of justice and solidarity. He referred to systems that collect water from the air, polymeric materials that mix with soil to retain moisture, and treated water reuse systems like "New Water" as examples of practical solutions that should be made available to all humanity. According to him, Malta has the experience and expertise to be at the forefront of this change, especially in the field of sustainable water and agricultural management in the Mediterranean and Africa.

The Speaker praised the Government of Malta's efforts to address food waste through strategies such as the Long-Term Waste Management Plan 2021-2030 and the Malta Strategy for Resilient Food Systems. He acknowledged the work of the Malta Food Agency, the "Żomm Tarmix" initiative, and the digital platform that facilitates the safe redistribution of surplus food. Furthermore, the Speaker welcomed with satisfaction the draft law on food waste presented by Ivan Bartolo, describing it as a potentially important step toward a more comprehensive legislative framework based on cooperation between Government and Opposition.

In conclusion, Speaker Anġlu Farrugia stated that the fight against hunger must become both a moral and legal duty, with parliaments serving as the force that unites words with action and holds governments accountable for fulfilling their promises. He stressed that food should be regarded as a legal right, not a privilege for the few, and that the true test of humanity is measured not by how much we talk about hunger, but by how much we reduce it.

The conference was also addressed by Opposition Spokesperson for the Environment Rebekah Borg, Opposition Spokesperson for Agriculture, Fisheries and Transport Toni Bezzina, Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Animal Rights Alicia Bugeja Said, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights Anton Refalo, as well as several other local and foreign speakers.