Rome - FICO Foundation and FAO are joining forces to help raise public awareness, particularly among young people, on good nutrition practices, healthy diets and the need to curb food waste. The aim is to highlight efforts to tackle all forms of malnutrition, as well as the necessary actions to achieve progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
A three-year agreement was signed today by FICO Foundation Chairperson Andrea Segré and FAO Deputy Director-General (Programmes) Daniel Gustafson. The signing ceremony took place at FAO headquarters in Rome in the lead up to the 6th Italian National Day for the Prevention of Food Waste, celebrated on 5 February.
The new partnership will focus on educating the public on the importance of sustainable agriculture while protecting the environment and biodiversity.
"FAO and FICO Foundation share the vision that educating the public on food, with a focus on youth, and awareness-raising initiatives are key tools in fighting against hunger and malnutrition, achieving sustainable agriculture, promoting the responsible use of natural resources and building a Zero Hunger generation", said Gustafson.
"We are proud to join this worthy initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This partnership will foster our effort in promoting sustainable agricultural production and consumption, as well as building a Zero Food Waste society", said Segrè.
The joint activities will include production and promotion of relevant educational content on food and agriculture, such as FAO's series of Activity Books for children, and organising joint exhibitions and other events on improving food security, boosting nutrition and reducing food waste at the FICO Eataly World.
In addition, the partnership will play an active role in the initiatives related to the World Food Day (16 October) and the UN Decade of Family Farming (2019 - 2028). Both organisations will also work together to promote the International Bologna Sustainability and Food Award, for which FAO will be represented on the Jury.
About FICO Foundation
The FICO Foundation , the Foundation of the Italian agro-food park (FICO, Fabbrica Italiana Contadina), headquartered in Bologna, Italy, within FICO Eataly World, the world's largest food park covering an area of 100,000 sq. metres promotes food education, research, responsible consumption and sustainable agriculture and the Mediterranean diet to a diverse general audience, with a focus on youth. The Foundation's members and partners include the Universities of Bologna and Trento, the Agri-Food Centre of Bologna (CAAB), the Municipality of Bologna and the Italian Ministry of Environment, among others.
Source: http://www.fao.org/
