(AGENPARL) – Thu 09 October 2025 [cid:539c432b-f109-497c-b307-45a855fd413e]
WORLD FOOD DAY 2025
This year’s World Food Day on 16 October marks FAO’s 80th anniversary
Several high-level events will take place at FAO Headquarters in Rome calling for action
to build a better future for food, people and the planet: Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future
16 October (09:30 CEST) – Inauguration of the Food and Agriculture Museum and Network (FAO MuNe)​
Sergio Mattarella, President of the Italian Republic​​, and QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General, will inaugurate the Food and Agriculture Museum and Network (FAO MuNe) – a permanent educational experience dedicated to food and agriculture and open to the public.
Supported by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and housed at FAO in the historic former David Lubin Memorial Library, FAO MuNe aims to inform, immerse, and inspire visitors to take action for a better food future.
Combining onsite spaces with interactive digital platforms, the museum will showcase the significance and history of global agrifood systems, culinary traditions, scientific and innovative advancements and the roles of women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples in building a sustainable food future through FAO’s Four Betters – Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life.
16 October (10:30 CEST) – Global Ceremony World Food Day 2025
Participants include:
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV;
QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General;
Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy;
King Letsie III of Lesotho, FAO Special Goodwill ​Ambassador for Nutrition;
Queen Letizia of Spain​, FAO Special Goodwill ​Ambassador for Nutrition​;
Princess Basma Bint Ali of Jordan, FAO Goodwill Ambassador for Near East and North Africa;
Yamandú Orsi Martínez, President of Uruguay;
Alvaro Lario, President, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD);
Cindy Hensley McCain, Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP);
Ban Ki-moon​, 8th Secretary-General ​of the United Nation.
16 October (15:00 CEST) – FAO80 World Food Day Talks-Foods Futures: Conversations for a Better World
A fast-paced, Davos-style global talk series will explore the future of food and agriculture through the lens of FAO’s Four Betters. Hosted by award-winning food journalist and broadcaster Dan Saladino and food writer Yasmin Khan, four thematic sessions will bring together FAO’s core leaders, chefs, activists, policymakers – bridging grassroots ideas with global action.
The first session, Better Production: Feeding the World Sustainably, will bring together King Letsie III of Lesotho; FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol; population ecologist Tim Benton, chef Fatmata Binta and TV gardener Diarmuid Gavin.
The second session, Better Nutrition: Rethinking Diets for People & Planet, will include FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero, economist Jeffrey Sachs; scientist Natalia Vázquez Manjarrez; and sustainable food campaigner Sophie Healy-Thow.
The third session, Better Environment: The Future of Food, will feature Princess Basma Bint Ali of Jordan; FAO Deputy Director-General Godfrey Magwenzi; chefs Magnus Nilsson and Cristina Bowerman, and scientist Shonil A. Bhagwat.
In the fourth session, Ban Ki-moon​, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations; FAO Deputy Director Maurizio Martina; actress/singer and FAO Champion Monique Coleman; architect and urbanist Carolyn Steel, and artist Michelangelo Pistoletto will discuss Better Life: Dignity, Justice & Opportunity in Food Systems.
Later, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu will designate chef Fatmata Binta as FAO Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Africa. The ceremony will conclude with the presentation of the FAO Achievement Award.
17 October (10:30 CEST) – Junior World Food Day Celebration
At the event to inspire youth action for a sustainable future, students aged 9–14 will join activities designed to promote healthy eating and reduce food waste.
Celebrity chef Alessandro Borghese, Monique Coleman, players from the Italian Rugby Federation, and a line-up of youth activists, influencers and innovators will take part in an interactive cooking show packed with stories, music, dance and rugby energy.
ACCREDITATION
To attend the World Food Day events in person, journalists should send accreditation request to
Media access to FAO headquarters will be through Viale Aventino 7.
Journalists can access videos, audio and photos of WFF and WFD 2025 here.
LINKS
World Food Day 2025
FAO Museum and Network (FAO MuNe)
Junior World Food Day
FAO80 Stories from the field
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
@FAO @FAOnews @World_FoodForum
#WorldFoodDay
#WorldFoodForum
#HandinHand
#FAO80
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