In Rome, several hundred farmers and food producers demonstrated at the historic market square Circo Massimo for a better global food supply. They held a 'world market' to emphasize the importance of the food industry.
At the headquarters of the UN food organization FAO in Rome, an international conference will be held in the coming days on combating hunger and food production. At this UN summit, heads of state and delegates will discuss ways to transform food systems to tackle hunger, poverty, climate change, and inequality.
CEOs of international agricultural conglomerates, banks, and producers of chemical growth agents and raw materials are also participating in the conference. Critics, environmental groups, and human rights organizations fear that the large agro-industry could gain an even greater grip on Agriculture+Food through the UN.
“Farmers are the lifeblood of our food systems,” says Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the UN. She was accompanied during her visit to the market by Agnes Kalibata, the special envoy for the Food Systems Summit.
The farmers' market in Rome was organized by Coldiretti, the largest agricultural association in Europe, which announced plans to expand its model of working with small farmers to low-income countries.
The event is held at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, where the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS) is also based.