Press release…
This year’s World Food Day on 16 October marks FAO’s 80th anniversary!
Several high-level events will take place at FAO Headquarters in Rome calling for action
to build a better future for food, people and the planet: Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future…

This year’s World Food Day on 16 October marks FAO’s 80th anniversary!
Several high-level events will take place at FAO Headquarters in Rome calling for action
to build a better future for food, people and the planet: Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future
16 October (10:30 CEST) – Global Ceremony World Food Day 2025
Participants include:
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV;
QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General;
Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy;
King Letsie III of Lesotho, FAO Special Goodwill Ambassador for Nutrition;
Queen Letizia of Spain, FAO Special Goodwill Ambassador for Nutrition;
Princess Basma Bint Ali of Jordan, FAO Goodwill Ambassador for Near East and North Africa;
Yamandú Orsi Martínez,President of Uruguay;
Alvaro Lario, President, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD);
Cindy Hensley McCain, Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP);
Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nation.
16 October (15:00 CEST) – FAO80 World Food Day Talks-Foods Futures: Conversations for a Better World

A fast-paced, Davos-style global talk series will explore the future of food and agriculture through the lens of FAO’s Four Betters. Hosted by award-winning food journalist and broadcaster Dan Saladino and food writer Yasmin Khan, four thematic sessions will bring together FAO’s core leaders, chefs, activists, policymakers – bridging grassroots ideas with global action.
The first session, Better Production: Feeding the World Sustainably, will bring together King Letsie III of Lesotho; FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol; population ecologist Tim Benton, chef Fatmata Binta andTV gardener Diarmuid Gavin.
The second session, Better Nutrition: Rethinking Diets for People & Planet, will includeFAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero, economist Jeffrey Sachs; scientist Natalia Vázquez Manjarrez; and sustainable food campaigner Sophie Healy-Thow.
The third session, Better Environment: The Future of Food, will feature Princess Basma Bint Ali of Jordan; FAO Deputy Director–General Godfrey Magwenzi; chefs Magnus Nilsson and Cristina Bowerman, and scientist Shonil A. Bhagwat.
In the fourth session, Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations; FAO Deputy Director Maurizio Martina; actress/singer and FAO Champion Monique Coleman; architect and urbanist Carolyn Steel, and artist Michelangelo Pistoletto will discuss Better Life: Dignity, Justice & Opportunity in Food Systems.
Later, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu will designate chef Fatmata Binta as FAO Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Africa. The ceremony will conclude with the presentation of the FAO Achievement Award.
17 October (10:30 CEST) – Junior World Food Day Celebration
At the event to inspire youth action for a sustainable future, students aged 9–14 will join activities designed to promote healthy eating and reduce food waste.
Celebrity chef Alessandro Borghese, Monique Coleman, players from the Italian Rugby Federation, and a line-up of youth activists, influencers and innovators will take part in an interactive cooking show packed with stories, music, dance and rugby energy…