Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi called for changes in the way the world produces and consumes food to combat the hunger crisis that is being exacerbated by the pandemic at the UN Food Systems Pre-Summit in Rome. “The thought that Mario Draghi expressed today at the UN Food Systems Pre Summit in Rome is also our thought” – said Ivano Vacondio (in the picture above), president of the Italian F&B industry association, Federalimentare, commenting on the Italian Prime Minister’s speech at the UN Food Systems Pre Summit held yesterday in Rome. Mr. Vacondio is also a member of the official Italian delegation to the Food Systems Summit that will be held in September.
Federalimentare, believes the Mediterranean diet should not be spared at the expense of the pandemic.
“The pandemic has sped up and changed processes in many areas, including the food industry, and we all must think about the direction we must take – said Mr. Vacondio – but this cannot be at the expense of the diversity of diets, in particular the Mediterranean diet which is one of the most sustainable models of production and consumption”.
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“As Mr. Draghi said, we need to find ways to respond to the greatest challenges our age puts before us – ensuring access to safe and nutritious food for all, moving to sustainable consumption patterns, increasing nature-positive production, and promoting equitable livelihoods – without destroying food diversity by moving toward homogenization of all diets” – said the president of Federalimentare. Traditional diets mirror the culture and identity of the peoples to which they belong, and “must be safeguarded because they promote social and economic growth. It is therefore essential not to simplify or trivialize by classifying foods in ‘good’ or ”bad’ – based on often questionable parameters. It is much better to enhance the value of diets: this is the most effective strategy to promote the health of the people and also of the planet.”