Asia-Pacific pavilion showcases tradition and innovation at FAO’s global From Seeds to Foods Exhibition

Rome/Bangkok – The Asia-Pacific region was well represented at the first Global Exhibition From Seeds to Foods taking place in Rome, Italy over the weekend. The exhibition asked people to think of the journey food takes to reach our plates and how food connects us all and shapes our daily lives, cultures, and health. 

QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) opened the exhibition at a high-level opening ceremony that also officially marked the beginning of the Organization’s 80th Anniversary celebrations.

“Every food journey begins with something small: a seed, a seedling, a fingerling, breeding stock, or genetic material,” the FAO Director-General said in his opening remarks. “From these humble beginnings grow the amazing diversity of foods that nourish and connect us all. "

The ceremony was attended by dignitaries like King Letsie III of Lesotho and Indonesia’s Minister for National Development Planning Rachmat Pambudy.

The Asia-Pacific pavilion was one of six regional showcases, offering visitors a dynamic journey through the region’s rich and diverse agrifood systems. With more than 20 countries from Asia and the Pacific represented and over 250 products on display, the pavilion presented the region’s extraordinary agricultural heritage, biodiversity and lead role in feeding the planet and shaping the future of global cuisine.

Alue Dohong, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific said the region’s pavilion tells the story of how tradition meets innovation as smallholder farmers blend generations of knowledge with cutting-edge technology to build resilient agrifood systems.

“The Asia-Pacific region is home to 60 percent of the world’s population and leads in diverse agricultural production—from rice, spices and fruits, to livestock, fisheries and forestry,” he said. “By combining traditional knowledge with innovation, we empower smallholders, strengthen value chains, boost productivity and strengthen rural economies.”

The region’s pavilion featured a range of unique, nutritious and healthy foods that combine deep cultural heritage with strong market potential. Among the highlights were Cocoa from Samoa and Papua New Guinea produced by artisanal farmers and tea from China, Laos, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

Visitors were also able to sample fresh fruit from Thailand, camel and horse milk from Mongolia, and tea from China and the Republic of Korea’s Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). There were cultural performances from Bhutan, Indonesia, Korea and a fashion show of Mongolian cashmere clothing featuring some of the country’s top models.

Many of the Special Agricultural Products from Asia-Pacific countries participating in the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative were also on display, including mango from Cambodia and the Philippines, turmeric products from Fiji, taro from the Cook Islands, and Lady Finger banana from Indonesia. Through OCOP, FAO supports countries to diversify diets and develop sustainable value chains.

The From Seeds to Foods exhibition opened in Rome on Friday October 10 and ran over four days until Monday October 13.