In a historic audience at the Quirinale Palace today, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, alongside Italian President Sergio Mattarella, announced the creation of the FAO Food and Agriculture Museum and Network in Rome. Together, they unveiled the official logo for the museum, which will be inaugurated next year to mark FAO's 80th anniversary, symbolizing a new chapter in the longstanding partnership between FAO and Italy.
"The Museum will provide a bridge between the world's food technologies and cultures embedded in our rich histories and grounded in our traditional and indigenous heritage," Qu explained.
"FAO's 80th anniversary serves as a moment of renewed global commitment to achieving Goal 2 of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda, summarized in the yet-to-be-realized "zero hunger." For this reason, the initiative of the Museum is very important", said President Mattarella.
The event marked the first-ever audience for FAO at the Presidential Palace, attended by around 60 FAO staff members. At the gathering, the Director-General also presented the details of the upcoming World Food Forum 2024 which will begin next week at FAO headquarters and will feature events celebrating World Food Day on 16 October.
This year's theme of the International Day, "Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future," is a timely reminder that all people have the right to adequate foods, and a call to the global community to renew the commitment to build more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable agrifood systems that can nourish the world.
"The motto of our Organization - Fiat Panis - "Let there be bread" - is not merely a slogan. It implores our responsibility to ensure that everyone has healthy foods everywhere", Qu said.
The Food and Agriculture Museum and Network
To be inaugurated on World Food Day, 16 October 2025, the new FAO museum will serve as a permanent exhibition and educational space open to the public. Dedicated to food and agriculture and our connection to it, the museum will explore FAO's mandate in an interactive, digital environment. It will foster knowledge-sharing and innovation, and celebrate global culinary traditions.
Supported by Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the museum is designed to be a hub for students, families, and international visitors, both in-person and online. Its mission is to highlight the rich traditions and innovative approaches that have shaped agrifood systems around the world. The FAO Museum and Network will also provide a unique opportunity for the global community to engage with the rich cultural and scientific legacy of food and agriculture, helping to educate and inspire future generations.
The Director-General highlighted that the museum and network would provide a platform for FAO members to showcase their local food cultures and products, reinforcing the organization's commitment to diversity and inclusivity. The museum will promote FAO's "Four Betters" - better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life - underscoring how agrifood systems can drive sustainable development and combat hunger worldwide.
Long-standing collaboration
Qu expressed deep appreciation for Italy's long-standing partnership with FAO, noting the critical role the country plays as FAO's host nation.
"We are grateful to the Italian Government, institutions, and the city of Rome, for the ongoing support and warm hospitality," he said praising Italy's leadership in international food security initiatives, particularly during its G20 Presidency in 2021, as well as its commitment to projects like the FAO Green Cities Initiative and the Food Coalition for Food Security.
The Director-General noted the museum's role as part of FAO's broader mission, aligning it with the organization's efforts to promote sustainable agrifood systems. He pointed to the museum as an essential component of FAO's 80th anniversary in 2025, a milestone he described as an opportunity to "further strengthen the fraternal bonds of collaboration between FAO and Italy." He extended a formal invitation to President Mattarella to inaugurate the museum during the anniversary celebrations, which will be an opportunity to reflect on the progress FAO has made and to look toward future challenges.
