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FAO and Italy

Partnering for Food Security and Prosperity

Partnership at a Glance

Italy and FAO have a unique relationship. As host country to FAO’s headquarters since 1951, Italy has been an integral part of the history and culture of FAO and an active contributor to the Organization’s work and Rome-based events.

It is no surprise, then, that Italy has been a crucial partner in FAO’s mission to reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition worldwide. To this end, Italy has long provided expertise and financial support to FAO’s work towards stronger food security and sustainable development, including in the most fragile areas on the planet. This is mirrored in the official development framework that Italy has set itself over the years.

In the spotlight

FAO’s Food and Agriculture Museum and Network links with new WOW Agrifood Museum in Siena
11/03/2026

FAO Director-General attends inauguration of the University of Siena’s new museum dedicated to agrifood systems and innovation

Italy and FAO mark International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 with commemorative coin
05/03/2026

New 5-euro silver coin, produced in collaboration with Italy’s State Mint, celebrates women’s essential contributions to agrifood systems

FAO Food Price Index declines in January for fifth consecutive month
06/02/2026

Updated forecasts suggest global stocks-to-use ratio may rise to quarter-century high

UN agencies welcome news that famine has been pushed back in the Gaza Strip, but warn fragile gains could be reversed without increased and sustained support
19/12/2025

FAO, UNICEF, WFP and WHO say hunger, malnutrition, disease and the scale of agricultural destruction remain alarmingly high

FAO welcomes UN’s Decision to establish an International Day of the Mediterranean Diet
19/12/2025

Territorial diets can offer a host of benefits to human health, the environment and social cohesion

The Mediterranean and the Black Sea: Fisheries sustainability concerns remain, but overfishing drops to its lowest level in a decade, while aquaculture feeds more people
28/11/2025

New report by FAO’s General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean reveals strong advances in sustainability and recovery of key stocks

COP30: FAO brings agrifood systems to the forefront of climate action
21/11/2025

In Brazil, FAO unveiled a series of reports and initiatives showing how sustainable agrifood systems are a solution to the climate crisis

New TERRA programme boosts small and medium agrifood companies’ access to credit
11/11/2025

Launched by the European Union, Italy’s Cassa Depositi e Prestiti and FAO, Transforming and Empowering Resilient and Responsible Agribusiness strengthens...

FAO Food Price Index declines in October, world cereal stocks set to reach record high
07/11/2025

Benchmark for globally traded food commodity prices was slightly below year-ago level

FAO honours 28 Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems across 14 countries
31/10/2025

Award Ceremony celebrates communities preserving traditional knowledge, biodiversity and resilience for a food secure future

Global deforestation slows, but forests remain under pressure, FAO report shows
21/10/2025

Latest Global Forest Resources Assessment provides detailed analyses for 236 countries and areas

World Food Forum 2025 concludes with renewed global commitment to transform agrifood systems through solidarity, science, and investment
17/10/2025

This year’s Forum was attended by several global leaders and included the celebration of a historic World Food Day marking FAO’s 80th anniversary

Junior World Food Day: FAO inspires young people with celebrity cooking show
17/10/2025

Italian national rugby players, actors, youth activists and celebrity chefs place the spotlight on healthy eating and reduced food waste

FAO inaugurates new Food and Agriculture Museum & Network in Rome
16/10/2025

FAO Director-General QU and Italy President Mattarella cut the ribbon for unique space showcasing FAO’s work in agriculture and food security

FAO and Italy unveil commemorative postal stamp marking the Organization’s 80th anniversary
16/10/2025

The new stamp celebrates eight decades of action against hunger and highlights FAO’s enduring partnership with Italy

Pope Leo XIV and world leaders mark World Food Day and FAO at 80 in Rome
16/10/2025

The theme of this year's World Food Day, “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” calls for continued collaboration

World Food Forum 2025 kicks off as FAO celebrates its 80th anniversary
13/10/2025

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu receives leaders from Brazil, Lesotho, Djibouti, Eswatini, Jordan and Bangladesh at FAO’s Rome headquarters

“From Seeds to Foods” opens in Rome as FAO marks 80 years of global action
10/10/2025

Global exhibition opens with high-level ceremony, celebrating agrifood innovation from a variety of seeds to the great diversity of foods on our...

FAO to inaugurate new Food and Agriculture Museum & Network in Rome
09/10/2025

Unique space showcasing FAO’s 8 decades of work in agriculture and food security, highlighting the role of food in culture, identity, and innovation

Global exhibition “From Seeds to Foods” kicks off FAO’s 80th Anniversary celebrations
08/10/2025

The free public exhibition at Rome’s Park of Porta Capena showcases technologies, good practices and the diversity of global agrifood systems from...

Events

FAO’s 80th anniversary

World Food Day 2024 launched 365 days of action to FAO’s 80th anniversary – a global call to write the next chapter of FAO’s journey together. Join us as we kick off celebrations early to build an unforgettable anniversary. A sustainable world is one where everyone counts. Each of us, including youth, can take action to create a better future for all.

 

FAO's Food and Agriculture Museum & Network

On 16 October 2025, for FAO's 80th anniversary and World Food Day, the doors of the Food and Agriculture Museum and Network will finally open at FAO headquarters in Rome.  This permanent educational experience will be dedicated to food and agriculture, our connection to it and FAO's mandate. Supported by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, this initiative will be a tool to promote the global commitment to food and agriculture, connecting people through knowledge, art and diverse food cultures, embracing a holistic approach to interactive experiences.

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Global Library of Trees and Flowers – FAO Park 

Amid the remarkable and historic green area of Rome at Villa Doria Pamphilj, the Global Library of Trees and Flowers – FAO Park is coming alive! Thanks to this multipartner initiative, the park is growing with one hundred newly planted trees and plants of various species, representing 7 diverse regions from around the world.

Come explore this global park, where sustainable practices and diverse flora are taking root. Watch as this beautiful space flourishes in the months ahead!  

Together, we can learn from nature and plant the seed for a sustainable future. 

 

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Sustainable Pompeii

Sustainable Pompeii comes to life in the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, a unique setting where the daily life of ancient Rome still echoes through its stone-paved streets. This special educational itinerary, developed through a partnership between FAO and the Park, reflects a shared commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Through 14 points of interest across the ruins, explore Pompeii’s rich agricultural heritage and discover how its ancient inhabitants effectively managed natural resources to support the growth, resilience, and prosperity of their community. These innovative practices not only sustained the city centuries ago but also resonate today with FAO’s mission to promote food security and sustainable agriculture.

Come and rediscover the wisdom of the past, and take a step towards building a more sustainable future.

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