Audience with H.E. Sergio Mattarella, President of the Republic of Italy Speech

Your Excellency President Mattarella,

Excellences,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Colleagues,

It is indeed a great honour to lead - for the first time in our history - an FAO delegation to the Quirinale Palace in front of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Italy. 

We are grateful to the Italian Government, institutions, and the city of Rome, for the ongoing support and warm hospitality.

I especially wish to thank His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, His Excellency the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests, Minister of Infrastructure, and all relevant Ministers and Ministries and partners, for the longstanding partnership in a number of key initiatives and projects, as well as the Italian Permanent Representation to FAO for the invaluable cooperation over the years.

Our strong collaboration has been further reinforced by the initiatives we have been promoting together under the Italian Presidency of the G20 in 2021, Pre-UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) in 2021 and UNFSS+2 in 2023 and the G7 2024.

Italy’s commitment to food security is demonstrated through numerous projects, such as the Food Coalition for food security, in which FAO is proud to participate, the FAO Green Cities Initiative, and the Mountain Partnership hosted at FAO, to name a few. 

Italy is our host country and as such it holds a special role, not only for FAO, but as an important bridge and platform for all 194 Members of the Organization.

Hosting FAO in Rome, together with the other international organizations of the UN food agencies, does not only comprise operational aspects, but it reflects, above all, the leading role that Italy plays in international and multilateral fora on the critical issues of food security, food culture, food diversity and the fight against hunger and poverty. 

We know that we have complex and demanding challenges ahead of us.

The climate crisis, conflicts, economic and social crises are increasing and deepening the global food insecurity situation. Efficient, effective and coherent collaboration is more critical than ever before – and our partnership with Italy duly reflects all these important criteria.

We are far from reaching the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and we urgently need to multiply, intensify and accelerate our joint efforts.

FAO, as the largest and key multilateral technical agency within the UN family, works every day with its 16,000 employees around the world, to support countries and communities in these endeavors under the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31.

Your Excellency President Mattarella,

I value this important opportunity to be here with you, together with my colleagues representing the FAO global team, coming from many different countries worldwide, and with expertise across many areas of work.

And it is even more important to have so many of our young colleagues present. Since taking office as FAO Director-General in 2019, my focus has been on youth and women – because they are key players in bringing about the transformation of global agrifood systems to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

I am proud that the annual World Food Forum 2024 I established will open next week at FAO headquarters here in Rome, with a strong focus on young people, as well as on science and innovation, and investment. These are the three key pillars of the World Food Forum, which, together, provide the holistic paradigm to bring about the change we need – for a better, and with more secured foods for all in the future.

The World Food Forum will celebrate FAO Birthday in line with World Food Day 2024 on 16 October. This year’s theme: "Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future" is a timely reminder that all people have the right to adequate foods, and a call to the global community to renew the commitment to build more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable agrifood systems that can nourish the world.

The motto of our Organization - Fiat Panis - "Let there be bread" - is not merely a slogan. It implores our responsibility to ensure that everyone has healthy foods everywhere.

Today also marks the start of our preparations leading up to FAO’s 80th Anniversary in October 2025. A milestone that will offer an opportunity to further strengthen our partnership and reaffirm FAO’s unique role as the leading global technical agency with the mandate to eradicate hunger and poverty.

To mark this occasion, and for our common legacy, we are especially grateful to the Department of Development Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, for the important support that will allow us to establish the FAO Food and Agriculture Museum and Network.

The Museum will be an interactive, digital and informative space open to students, schools, families, and individuals – both for those living in Rome, as well as those coming to visit the Eternal City from all corners of the world.  Through the Digital FAO, all Members are united and can share with their products, traditional foods and traditional communities.

It will provide a bridge between the world’s food technologies and cultures embedded in our rich histories and grounded in our traditional and indigenous heritage, with the latest scientific innovations and technology to ensure the Four Betters going forward: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life – leaving no one behind.

Your Excellency President Mattarella,

It would be an honour and a privilege if you would graciously accept our invitation to come to FAO next year to inaugurate this unique experience with us, which I firmly believe will further strengthen the fraternal bonds of collaboration between FAO and Italy.

Today, on this auspicious occasion, it is my privilege to present to you and to unveil, for the first time, the logo of this important legacy.

Thank you – Grazie!