16^th November marks the International Whole Grain Day.  A live webinar with experts and key opinion leaders in the field from around the world will be held on the same day. Registration is FREE OF CHARGE and is already open - discover the programme and sign up today

Join the Whole Grain Initiative and a host of global leaders to discuss how the daily consumption of whole grains is a vital part of not only healthy, but also sustainable diets.

Climate change and global population growth are at the forefront of most discussions about food policy, and many consumers are eating more plant-based foods in an effort to make choices that are healthy for themselves and the planet. When it comes to plant-based eating though, whole grains – which have been a mainstay of traditional diets around the globe for millennia – are sometimes forgotten or overlooked.

Studies show that whole grain foods save water, provide more food and less waste, and support better land use and healthy soil. Grains and other plant foods are far less resource-intensive to produce and require significantly less water than just about any other food we consume – which is a big deal when it comes to climate-change resilience and sustainability.

Moreover, there is strong and consistent evidence that whole grains are essential for health. Higher intakes of whole grain have been associated with several beneficial health effects, including lower risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and colorectal cancer. Despite this evidence, the consumption of whole grains remains alarmingly low.  According to the Global Burden of Disease study, low intake of whole grains is the leading dietary risk factor for NCDs in almost all WHO regions, surpassing low fruit and vegetable consumption. 

Join the Whole Grain Initiative, WHO, FAO and a host of global key opinion leaders to discuss how the daily consumption of whole grains is a vital part of not only healthy diets, but also the 'planetary health diet'. The panel discussion will focus on whole grain and plant-based diets, the role of whole grains in fighting COVID-19 and chronic diseases, and evolving public policy initiatives on whole grain.