Right to Food in Rome Event
17/04/2025
“Smallholder Farmers Make a Difference”
FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy, 17 April 2025 – The ‘Right to Food in Rome’ event took place at FAO headquarters today, bringing together food security experts, local decision-makers, civil society representatives and researchers from academia to discuss how Rome’s evolving food system could provide a replicable model for other cities working to secure the right to food in urban areas.
Rome’s proactive approach in shaping food policy reflects a growing global and European momentum toward human rights-based approaches, which integrates urban and peri-urban food governance. The city's commitment to the right to adequate food for its inhabitants is enshrined in its official Food Policy, adopted in 2021.
Panelists and participants discussed the formulation of a “Piano del Cibo” or Food Plan for Rome as a way of ensuring that all those living in Rome and the surrounding areas have access to adequate fresh, nutritious and tasty food.
“We cannot speak of the right to food without recognizing the crucial role of smallholder farmers, and local and indigenous communities, who are the guardians of the seeds that feed the world.” said Mario Marino, Technical Officer of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
“As we say at the International Treaty, ‘it all starts with the seed’,” said Marino. “Therefore, it is crucial to recognize and protect the rights of the farmers, and we urge the inclusion of Farmers’ Rights and the role of the International Treaty in saving and sharing the plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) in the Food Plan for Rome, currently under development.”
FAO is mandated to represent the voice of farmers in relevant forums and serves as both a technical and political platform.
The International Treaty provides facilitated access to and exchange of PGRFA around the world through its unique Multilateral System of Access and Benefit-sharing, and calls on all nations to protect and promote Farmers’ Rights.
In urban contexts, Farmers’ Rights not only safeguard access to PGRFA, but also promote the diversification of local crops, contributing to sustainable and nutritious food production. In Rome, the inclusion of agricultural practices in decision-making processes and access to public lands for local cultivation are key components to building an integrated food system.
“The Right to Food in Rome” event was co-organized by the FAO Right to Food team, the University Consortium for Socioeconomic Research and the Environment, a non-profit public law body recognized by the Ministry of University and Research, particularly the Observatory on Food Insecurity and Poverty of Rome (CURSA), and the Municipality of Rome, and was attended by more than 200 people, including Rome City Councilors and those participating online.
@PlantTreaty
#ItAllStartsWithTheSeed #RightToFood #FarmersRights