Food Systems
Together with FAO, Italy is working to ensure that food systems are equitable and sustainable. That means they are profitable throughout, have widespread benefits across society, and safeguard the environment.
In depth
Sustainable Food Systems in the Mediterranean
The Sustainable Food Systems in the Mediterranean platform provides countries a forum for dialogue and collaboration by sharing a common approach to food systems transformation. Initiated by FAO, the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), and the Union for the Mediterranean, this initiative connects Mediterranean countries, including Italy, and other stakeholders in their food system transformation efforts at national and regional levels.
Urban Food Agenda
The Urban Food Agenda aims to support sustainable development, food security and nutrition in urban and peri-urban regions, and the rural areas that surround them. Since the evolution of urban diets will be strongly influenced by the management of these food systems, Italy is committed to ensuring they remain sustainable –socially, economically and environmentally.
News
FAO Food Price Index rises in February
07/03/2025
Higher sugar, dairy, and vegetable oil prices drive the overall increase.
FAO welcomes UN Biodiversity COP16.2, highlights agrifood systems as key to achieving global biodiversity goals
24/02/2025
Colombia, the CBD Secretariat, and FAO join efforts to spotlight the importance of including agrifood systems in National Biodiversity Strategies...
Global Conference on Geographical Indications opens in Rome
18/02/2025
FAO and Italy lead discussions on origin-linked products, sustainability and innovation
FAO Statistical Yearbook 2024 reveals critical insights on the sustainability of global agriculture, food security, and the importance of agrifood systems in employment
18/11/2024
The publication provides a thorough analysis of emerging trends and ongoing challenges in food production, food security and nutrition, and the environmental...
G7 Development Ministers’ Meeting: FAO calls for increased focus on Africa amid rising hunger
23/10/2024
Director-General QU Dongyu underlines FAO commitment to the G7 Apulia Food Systems Initiative put forward by Italian Presidency
World Food Day 2024: Global ceremony highlights the right to nutritious safe and affordable foods
16/10/2024
FAO rallies global community behind the 2024 theme: Right to Foods for a better life and a better future - Leave No One Behind
GIAHS - Soave Traditional Vineyards
22/02/2024
Italy is home to two Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems: one of these is situated in Soave
Nature is staging a comeback: UN recognizes seven World Restoration Flagships
13/02/2024
Initiatives in Africa, Latin America, the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia cited as best practices for reversing ecosystems degradation
FAO launches new portal for statistics on Food and Diet
01/02/2024
The new FAOSTAT domain provides critical information about nutrients – going well beyond calories alone
FAO Director-General outlines five pillars for effective impact in Africa at Italy-Africa Summit
29/01/2024
QU Dongyu addresses African leaders at the Italian Senate, underlining the need for a transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and...
Hidden costs of global agrifood systems worth at least $10 trillion
06/11/2023
154-country study makes case for true cost accounting to guide policy
News
World Food Forum opens with a call to accelerate climate action by transforming agrifood systems
16/10/2023
Leveraging the power of youth, investment and innovation, the week-long event aims to forge new paths towards a more sustainable, resilient, inclusive...
News
World Food Day and World Food Forum 2023 set to spark global action for water, climate action and sustainable agrifood systems
10/10/2023
On 16-20 October, FAO headquarters in Rome will welcome world leaders, experts, changemakers and youth and indigenous activists to work for a sustainable...
Highlights
FAO unveils new fungi-inspired art exhibition for World Food Forum 2023
28/09/2023
The unique exhibition by Italian artist Egeon will be showcased at the Rome Botanical Gardens for almost a month to highlight the vital role of mushrooms...
News
UNFSS+2: FAO highlights the power of transforming agrifood systems for climate action
24/07/2023
FAO Director-General, COP28 Presidency and high-level officials discuss solutions to deliver on climate action and food systems transformation.
Highlights
Mediterranean diet
18/09/2019
For a number of years now, Italy and FAO have advanced awareness on the benefits of the Mediterranean diet with the understanding that preserving...
Highlights
Women’s equality in agrifood systems could boost the global economy by $1 trillion, reduce food insecurity by 45 million: new FAO report
13/04/2023
Agrifood systems are a major employer of women globally and constitute a more important source of livelihoods for women than for men in many countries.
News
Support to the "Food Systems Hub"
12/01/2023
Transforming agrifood systems requires changing policies, mindsets, and business models.
Pubblications
Activity book - Food heroes
16/10/2020
Did you know that the majority of the world’s food is produced by small-scale farmers? But farmers aren’t the only food heroes out there. From the...
Leave No One Behind: Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life
01/08/2022
Collective action across 150 countries worldwide is what makes World Food Day one of the most celebrated UN days of the UN calendar. Hundreds of events...
Building agricultural resilience to natural hazard-induced disasters: Insights from country case studies
01/01/2021
Natural hazard‑induced disasters (NHID), such as floods, droughts, severe storms, and animal pests and diseases have significant, widespread and long‑lasting...
Activity book - Climate is changing, food and agriculture must too
16/10/2018
What would happen if we cut down all the forests and if we did nothing to protect our oceans or the people affected by climate change? This Activity...
Activity book - Change the future of migration
16/10/2018
Did you know that 1 out of every 7 people on the planet was a migrant in 2015? In the last few years, there has been a huge increase in the number of...
Activity Book - Working for Zero Hunger
16/10/2018
Did you know that there are over 820 million people in the world that go to bed hungry, while 1.9 billion people are overweight? The world has set a...
The Regional Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea
01/01/2023
The Regional Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (RPOA-SSF) is a historic political commitment setting out...
Our actions are our future
01/01/2021
The World Food Day 2021 brochure provides a brief overview of FAO’s work with countries and other partners to make our agri-food systems more efficient,...
70 Years of FAO (1945-2015)
01/01/2015
This book tells the story of these seven decades of the history of FAO, its protagonists and their endeavours. We have dug into the FAO archives to...