Rome: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) held celebrations at its headquarters in Rome, marking the 80th anniversary of its establishment with the theme “Hand in hand for better food and a better future!” The event emphasized global solidarity to build a more sustainable and equitable food system for all people.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the celebrations were part of the World Food Forum (WFF) and included participation from the organization’s 194 members. Notable figures in attendance were Pope Leo XIV, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, FAO Goodwill Ambassador Jordan’s Princess Basma bint Ali, among others.
Kuwaiti Ambassador to Italy Nasser Al-Qahtani and Kuwait’s Permanent Representative at FAO Yousef Juhail also participated in the celebrations. During the event, Pope Leo XIV delivered a speech urging the avoidance of using hunger as a weapon in conflicts, labeling such actions as violations of international humanitarian law. He called on governments and global institutions to intensify efforts to eradicate hunger, describing it as a moral and political imperative.
FAO’s Secretary General Qu Dongyu highlighted that approximately 637 million people suffer from severe malnutrition and emphasized the need for innovation to address the inability of billions to afford current food and agricultural systems. He also announced the establishment of a museum and a special network dedicated to celebrating FAO’s heritage in supporting agriculture and food systems.