SIT down for breakfast. Stand up for farmers. That's the message of this year's Fairtrade Fortnight.

The two week campaign which kicks off on Monday (FEB 29) aims to highlight the severe lack of food security for farmers around the world, bringing together shoppers, campaigners and businesses to take action.

Fairtrade Fortnight 2016 aims to inspire people to sit down for breakfast in support of the farmers who grow the food we have every morning, such as coffee, tea, cocoa and bananas.

Lack of food security is one of the world’s most critical issues. Despite millions of farmers and workers in developing countries working hard every day to grow the food we eat, many don’t earn enough to know where their next meal is coming from. Half of the world’s hungry people, nearly 400 million, are estimated to live on small farms.

Shoppers in Dorset can change this by harnessing the power of a Fairtrade breakfast – so that farmers and workers can feel secure, knowing they can feed their families, all year round.

Fairtrade works with 1.5 million farmers and workers in parts of Africa, Asia and Latin and Central America enabling them to earn a sustainable income.

Nilufar Verjee, public engagement director for the Fairtrade Foundation, said: "This Fairtrade Fortnight, make your breakfast count with Fairtrade – use the power of your shopping to help ensure food security for world’s most vulnerable famers and workers.”

Campaigners up and down the country will hold hundreds of breakfast events as part of Fairtrade Fortnight 2016 and the #YouEatTheyEat hashtag will be used to spread the word on social media.

Local events in Bournemouth:

Staff and patients will be going bananas at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital on March 11 from 7.30am to 7.30pm. Organiser Sarah Muskett said: "To celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight, we're going bananas about breakfast. As a hospital, we think a healthy start to the day is important for the health and wellbeing of our staff, patients and visitors. Look out for special offers on our bananas during the fortnight and some specially selected banana recipes." For more information, email sarah.muskett@rbch.nhs.uk.

A Big Breakfast Buffet, as well as break and lunch activities, will be held at Glenmoor and Winton Academies on March 3 from 7.45am until 1.30pm.

The West Howe Croft Community Centre will hold Fairtrade refreshments at its regular network meeting on March 4 from 10am to 12pm.

For more information about events in Dorset, visit fairtrade.org.uk/breakfast.