Greeting address by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella on occasion of the inauguration of the FAO Food and Agriculture Museum & Network

I wish to express my sincere thanks to Director General Qu for his kind words, and to extend a cordial greeting to all those present.

It is a great pleasure to take part in this inauguration.

The  “Food and Agriculture Museum & Network ” represents an initiative that not only allows us to relive the history of an international organization which we have been glad to host in Rome since 1951, but also conveys a message of profound significance — that of a commitment whose strategic value is ever more clearly defined: from ensuring food security to safeguarding the sustainability of ecosystems.

The path toward achieving these goals — clearly outlined for some time in the United Nations 2030 Agenda — remains, alas, largely yet to be fulfilled, including the aspiration of a world free from hunger.

It is a sad paradox that, while knowledge, resources, and technological potential continue to grow — including significant advances in the agricultural sector — we are nevertheless witnessing new scenarios of famine, intolerable inequalities, and a regression of the multilateral system, the only paradigm capable of truly addressing these needs.

It is an incomprehensible and unacceptable reversal of course.

Multilateral institutions, which are most directly engaged in the fight against food insecurity, are invaluable instruments embodying the awareness of the indivisibility of human destinies.

To render this commitment ever more effective and enduring, it must be sustained by a genuine awareness of fundamental issues that, all too often, remain at the margins of public discourse.

For citizens to be true agents of change, they must be informed.

Knowledge is the prime mover that inspires stronger commitment and channels energies — above all those of the younger generations — to confront the challenges before us and to make possible the construction of a more equitable future.

The “Food and Agriculture Museum & Network ” is a most insightful intuition, fully aligned with this vision, fostering awareness so to promote a deeper understanding of the issues we are called upon to face.

I therefore wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to all those who conceived and brought this initiative to life — the artists, technicians, and workers whose dedication has made today’s inauguration possible, thereby adding further meaning to the celebration of FAO’s 80th anniversary and World Food Day.

Thank you, Director, and my best wishes!