16 October 2008 - FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf today called for a political and financial push to boost agriculture in the world's poorest countries, double global food production and free the world of hunger and malnutrition. Speaking at the 28th World Food Day ceremony, the anniversary of FAO's foundation in 1945, Diouf said, âI wish to reaffirm that we know what needs to be done to eradicate the hunger of 923 million people in the world. We also know what needs to be done to double world food production and feed a population that is expected to rise to 9 billion people by 2050." FAO headquarters, Rome, Italy.