On 4 February 2025, the Italian Senate's Agriculture Committee held a parliamentary hearing with representatives from FAO, part of an ongoing investigation by the Italian Government into the effects of climate change on agriculture and the measures needed to adapt to these changing realities.
President of the Committee, Senator Luca de Carlo, introduced the hearing and welcomed the FAO representatives, expressing gratitude for their participation.

FAO’s Collaboration with Parliamentary Networks

Dr Jean-Léonard Touadi, FAO Special Coordinator for Parliamentary Networks, thanked the Italian Parliament and the Agriculture Committee for their support and active participation in the first two Global Parliamentary Summits against Hunger and Malnutrition, held in Madrid in 2018 and Valparaíso in 2023. He also informed the meeting that a Third Global Parliamentary Summit against Hunger and Malnutrition will be held in Africa in 2026, with a Pre-Summit Event to be held in Rome in 2025.

Dr Touadi highlighted FAO's collaboration with over 55 parliamentary networks worldwide, which provides technical support to national, subregional and regional parliamentary institutions. This work has led to the approval of more than 100 laws and legislative initiatives aimed at transforming agrifood systems.

Climate Change and Agrifood Systems

FAO presented its Strategy on Climate Change 2022-2031, which seeks to enhance the sustainability and resilience of agrifood systems through three key areas: (1) strengthening global and regional climate policies, (2) providing direct country support, and (3) promoting local actions, aiming to position agrifood systems as a vital component in combating climate change, ensuring food security, and fostering sustainable agricultural growth. 

Giulia Galbiati, Climate Change and NDC Specialist at FAO, highlighted the significant impact of climate change on vulnerable populations and emphasized that while agrifood systems are a source of greenhouse gas emissions, they also have high mitigation potential. Dr Danilo Mollicone, Climate Change Land Monitoring Expert at FAO, discussed strategies to reduce emissions in agriculture, particularly through the adoption of sustainable practices, showing how they can lead to substantial reductions in emissions by 2050. 

Science, innovation and data and crucial to formulating climate policies, and FAO presented the tools it has developed and uses to support informed decision-making.

Conclusion

Senators posed questions and requested clarification on various topics, including FAO training activities, the impact of climate change on agriculture, and strategies for reducing methane emissions from livestock. The President of the Committee recognized that the hearing had provided valuable insights into the impact of climate change on agriculture and the measures needed to adapt to these changes. 

FAO's strategies and activities aim to support countries in transforming their agrifood systems to make them more sustainable, resilient, and environmentally friendly. The Italian Senate's Agriculture Committee will continue to investigate this critical issue, and FAO's expertise will be essential in informing its work.