Fabio Cassese, Director General for Development Cooperation – MAECI; Angelo Riccaboni, President of PRIMA and SANTA CHIARA LAB/University of Siena; Dr. Samer Jarrar, Director General of the National Agricultural Research Centre, Ministry of Agriculture of the Palestinian National Authority. Moderator Marinella Giannelli, CIHEAM Bari.

In the current scenario of environmental crisis and geo-political instability, food security is at risk in many areas of the globe. In recent years, Italy has made nutrition and food security a cornerstone of its commitment at international level. In this scenario, as reaffirmed during the recent high-level ministerial meetings promoted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (‘Ministerial Dialogue of Mediterranean Countries on the Food Crisis’ of June 8, 2022 and ‘Mediterranean Diet: Instrument of Diplomacy’ of July 15, 2022), the Mediterranean represents a priority area. In this basin, a bridge between Africa, Asia and Europe, Italy is engaged in numerous initiatives that promote food security, sustainable diets and food systems, through development cooperation, exchange of knowledge and good practices, multilateral dialogue and science-diplomacy.