World Food Day was Oct. 16. This special day commemorates the founding of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a specialized agency that works in more than 130 countries worldwide to defeat hunger.

This year's theme -- "Right to foods for a better life and a better future -- emphasizes that everyone should have access to enough nutritious, diverse, affordable and safe foods. And at no time is this access to high-quality nutrition more important than during a child's first 1,000 days.

This crucial period of rapid development between conception and a child's second birthday sets the stage for a lifetime of health and well-being. During this window of time, proper nutrition plays a pivotal role in developing a baby's brain, body and overall health, so it has a significant impact on setting a child on a path to lifelong wellness.

We should all be invested in ensuring women of childbearing age, pregnant and lactating women, and children are well-nourished. One indispensable component of ensuring that access to nutrient-rich foods is international trade.

This year's FAO State of Agricultural Commodity Markets report will further detail the trade-nutrition relationship, but some preliminary findings released in September acknowledge........

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