FAO celebrates World Food Day and 80 years in Rome.The 2025 edition of the World Food Forum got under way on Monday at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome.Held under the theme 'Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future', the forum will host numerous heads of state and government and high-level international delegations for a "week of dialogue, innovation and partnership aimed at transforming global agrifood systems". Among the most important flagship events is the celebration of World Food Day, on Thursday 16 October, which also marks 80 years since FAO was founded to further agricultural knowledge and nutritional wellbeing. Italy's foreign minister Antonio Tajani will address the plenary session at the World Food Day event and will inaugurate the FAO Food and Agriculture Museum and Network – FAO MuNe at the agency's headquarters near the Circus Maximus. Supported by Italy’s ministry of foreign affairs, the museum initiative "stands as a legacy of FAO’s 80 years of dedication to sustainable food and agriculture worldwide and reflects Rome’s role as FAO’s host city and partner in this shared commitment", according to a statement on the FAO website. The World Food Day event will be attended by Italy's president Sergio Mattarella, prime minister Giorgia Meloni, and Pope Leo XIV. Also in attendance will be King Letsie III of Lesotho, Queen Letizia of Spain, and Princess Basma Bint Ali of Jordan - all of whom are FAO Ambassadors - while FAO director-general QU Dongyu will be joined by the heads of the other UN food agencies in Rome and the secretary-general of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon. For full details of the World Food Forum see the FAO website. Photo FAO/Giuseppe Carotenuto.

The 2025 edition of the World Food Forum got under way on Monday at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome. Held under the theme 'Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future', the forum will host numerous heads of state and government and high-level international delegations for a "week of dialogue, innovation and partnership aimed at transforming global agrifood systems". Among the most important is the celebration of World Food Day, on Thursday 16 October, which also marks 80 years since FAO was founded to further agricultural knowledge and nutritional wellbeing. Italy's foreign minister Antonio Tajani will address the plenary session at the World Food Day event and will inaugurate the at the agency's headquarters near the Circus Maximus. Supported by Italy’s ministry of foreign affairs, the museum initiative "stands as a legacy of FAO’s 80 years of dedication to sustainable food and agriculture worldwide and reflects Rome’s role as FAO’s host city and partner in this shared commitment", according to a statement on the FAO website. The World Food Day event will be attended by Italy's president Sergio Mattarella, prime minister Giorgia Meloni, and Pope Leo XIV. Also in attendance will be King Letsie III of Lesotho, Queen Letizia of Spain, and Princess Basma Bint Ali of Jordan - all of whom are FAO Ambassadors - while FAO director-general QU Dongyu will be joined by the heads of the other UN food agencies in Rome and the secretary-general of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon. For full details of the World Food Forum see the . Photo FAO/Giuseppe Carotenuto.