The event “The Mediterranean Diet as an Instrument of Diplomacy” will take place at the Palatine Chapel of the Royal Palace of Caserta on Friday 15 July, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.
The event – organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, alongside the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute/CIHEAM of Bari and the Municipality of Caserta – is an opportunity to meet and discuss with several associations, entrepreneurs of the agri-food supply chain, local authorities and civil society about the food diplomacy that Italy is currently pursuing, starting from the principles and values of culture and sustainability of the Mediterranean Diet. Taking cue from the concrete examples set up in the cities and territories of our country, and from the most innovative entrepreneurs of the agri-food supply chain, the event will address the European, Mediterranean and global dimensions of Italy’s food diplomacy, which is currently being developed together with important international partners, such as FAO. The goal is to implement concrete initiatives that can support the countries most affected by the current food crisis, which Italy shall uphold in the several international meetings that – following the Mediterranean Ministerial Dialogue on the Food Security Crisis, held at the Farnesina on 8 June – will be organised from here to the 3rd World Conference on the Mediterranean Diet (to be held in Bari from 28 to 30 September) and to the second edition of the Mediterranean Ministerial Dialogue (to be held on 1 December).
The event – which will be organised as a talk show, and moderated by journalist Angela Rafanelli, TV host of RAI’s programme “Linea Verde” – will be opened by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigi Di Maio and by the Mayor of Caserta and President of ANCI (National Association of Italian Municipalities) Campania, Carlo Marino. A number of speakers will follow, including the Mayor of Milan Beppe Sala (via video link), Valentina Stinga, Maria Pina Fontana and Rosanna Marziale, innovative businesswomen of the agrifood supply chain in the Campania region, Coldiretti President Ettore Prandini, the Director of CREA Research Centre for Policy and Bioeconomy, Alessandra Pesce, Confagricoltura president Massimiliano Giansanti and European Parliament Vice-President Pina Picierno.
FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigi Di Maio will wrap up the event.
The YouTube channel of the Farnesina will stream the event live.
Journalists and cameramen/photographers may also follow the event in person by requesting accreditation no later than 1:00 pm on 14 July; the application is to be sent via e-mail to accreditamentostampa@esteri.it (tel. +39 06 3691.8573/3432/3078), attaching thereto an identity document, a letter from the media organisation they work for and, for representatives of foreign media organisations , also a Note Verbale from the Rome Embassy of the country of the represented media organisation.
Accredited press staff may enter the Palatine Chapel from the main entrance of the Royal Palace of Caserta from 9:00 am to 9:45 am, wearing an FFP2 mask.
