Discorso pronunciato dall’Ambasciatore Maurizio Massari, Rappresentante Permanente dell’Italia presso le Nazioni Unite, al Briefing della Vice Segretario Generale ONU Amina J. Mohammed sugli esiti del Pre-Vertice di Roma sui Sistemi Alimentari —
Thank you, Madame Deputy Secretary General, thank you Amina, for this prompt briefing on the outcome of the Rome Pre-Food Systems Summit.
We share your assessment that the Pre-Summit was a success in terms of active inclusivity, engagement, political commitment and advancement of the overall Food Systems Summit preparation.
As stated by Prime Minister Draghi at the opening segment, Italy was proud to co-host such an important event, at a juncture that sees Italy placing “Food Security, Nutrition and Food Systems” at the center of the global agenda, in the framework of our current G20 Presidency, in the context of our partnership with the UK for COP26 and as Host Country of the Rome-based Agencies devoted to agriculture and food security.
Right after the outbreak of the pandemic, Italy promoted a “Food Coalition” in the context of the FAO to contribute to the prevention of a global food crisis. Today this is a fully-fledged initiative joined by more than 40 Member States in Rome.
Here in New York, we worked to ensure the openness and stability of international value chains and food trade and, as Chair of the Group of Friends of Food Security and Nutrition, we provided an informal platform for the engagement of Member States and other stakeholders in the preparation process of the Food Systems Summit.
Just one month before the Pre-Summit, we promoted the adoption by the G20 Foreign Affairs and Development Ministerial Meetings, of the “Matera Declaration on Food Security, Nutrition and Food Systems” which contained an action oriented “G20 Call to action” for food security and food systems. This Declaration was presented to the Pre-Summit by the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luigi Di Maio, as a contribution of the G20 to accelerate the implementation of SDG2.
Italy’s proactive engagement towards the Food Systems Summit is based on a whole-of-Government and whole-of-Society approach, in line with the holistic action needed to achieve the fundamental objectives of the Summit. We shaped our positions and contributions on a constant dialogue with our civil society, the private sector, the academia, women, youth, farmers and practitioners.
We are now at a critical juncture in this process. Let me say, at this Olympic times’, we can now say that the torch is passing from Rome to New York.
The need to ensure inclusivity and an evidence-based approach in the process will remain key, including in the context of the coalitions and proposed actions andsolutions.
It will also be important to start looking at the follow-up to the Food Systems Summit in New York. In this respect, we believe that the Rome-based Agencies, with their invaluable expertise and increased integration and cooperation, will be uniquely positioned to play a central role.
A long-term vision is essential to ensure consistency and impact and to orient increasing investments in the localization of our action, starting from the key role of local production, traditional and healthy diets and effective partnerships in support of the agri-food sector.
Rest assured, Madame Deputy Secretary General, that Italy will continue to provide its unwavering and proactive support.
I thank you very much.
