Junior World Food Day 2026 Opening Statement

Dear Young Friends,

Dear Young-at-Heart Friends,

Dear Students and Teachers,

Dear Special Guests, 

Every year, since I came, we have celebrated the World Food Day not in the usual way as for 75 years. Even during the pandemic in 2022, we celebrated it for the first time with a mapping show on the Colosseum and on the FAO buildings.

After the pandemic, I had the idea of bringing you to this old building – which had always been just with old Ambassadors, old politicians, old leaders, seated in the seats you are sitting on now, and just talking and talking and talking.

But since you came, you have made this room dynamic and regenerated with passion, with sympathy, with dignity. You are pure white paper; you can draw the most beautiful paintings for your future.

That is why the first work done together – you can see it hanging on the wall in the Atrium – that was done by your older sisters and brothers.

But today, with your coming, you will keep the continuity of filling this Organization with new hope and a new dynamic.

Thank you kids and young friends!

Welcome to FAO!

I am so happy to see all of you!

Today is indeed an important celebration!

Today is about ideas – your ideas!

You do not need to be a scientist or an innovator to have a great idea and to make a difference.

However, always simple, yet great ideas come from your age. When I was your age, I looked at the sky and counted the stars. When I counted more, I could not finish until midnight I would fall asleep. I hope you also count the stars. This season is a good time to count the stars and start dreaming of your future for the next 10 years, 20 years or 40 years. Maybe one day you will become a great scientist. 

Every time you ask a question, try something new or find a better way to do something, you are taking the first step towards innovation.

Think differently from your father, your mother or grandparents. Think differently from your classmates, your friends, and then you will arrive at the answer by asking yourself three “whys”:

“Why am I so different? Am I strange or am I a real genius?” Do not bind your thinking; when you start to think freely, you always start having some ideas. I always encourage parents and teachers: let them think freely. Of course, in some classrooms you need a certain discipline, but every time you can think freely, you always try to do things a little bit differently. That is where real innovation starts.

This year, our World Food Day message is “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.”

So, “Innovate today” starting with small steps, small thinking, and then “Nourish tomorrow”, nourish yourself, nourish your friends, your classmates, and nourish your family and local community.

I have been a professor for many years, and I have always encouraged my students to think first, differently, and to challenge me.

I know that a lot of teachers do not like kids challenging them, and of course, if necessary, you need to keep the discipline.

So, innovation starts from childhood. Innovation starts every morning when you wake up. Innovation starts with small things you are doing differently, and you will benefit it in the future.

Good luck to all of you, enjoy your time in FAO, enjoy your life in the future.

Thank you!