Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is scheduled leave for Rome, the capital city of Italy, on Sunday morning to join the 2025 World Food Forum (WFF) that began on October 10 and runs through October 17, hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization at its headquarters.
In addition to attending the WFF, the Chief Adviser is expected to have a number of high-profile meetings, including a meeting with FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, his Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told UNB on Sunday.
The theme for the week-long event is ‘Hand in Hand for better foods and a better future’, and it focuses on three pillars: Global Youth Action, Science and Innovation, and Hand-In-Hand Investment.
A commercial flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the Chief Adviser and his small entourages will leave from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) around 11.30 am.
The Chief Adviser is scheduled to return home on Wednesday morning.
Prof Yunus will deliver a speech as an invited guest at the main session of the WFF.
The World Food Forum (WFF) is an open and inclusive global platform established by the Youth Committee of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 2021 to drive the transformation of agrifood systems through the power of youth, science and innovation, and investment.
It brings together stakeholders of all ages and sectors to turn ideas into action, scale solutions and foster meaningful partnerships that accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on Friday inaugurated ‘From Seeds to Foods’, the first global exhibition tracing the evolution of agrifood systems – from the origins of agriculture to today’s innovations.
Led by FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, the high-level opening ceremony took place within the Park of Porta Capena, directly opposite FAO headquarters, and officially marked the beginning of the Organization’s 80th Anniversary celebrations.
“Every food journey begins with something small: a seed, a seedling, a fingerling, breeding stock, or genetic material,” the FAO Director-General said in his opening remarks. From these humble beginnings grow the amazing diversity of foods that nourish and connect us all," he added.
Qu also emphasised that food is not only about science or biology – it is about people. “Farmers, fishers, herders, scientists, youths and women – the millions of hands and minds that make food possible every single day," he said.
The ceremony was attended by King Letsie III of Lesotho, Indonesia’s Minister for National Development Planning Rachmat Pambudy, Rome’s Councillor for Agriculture, Environment and Waste Management, Sabrina Alfonsi and Italy’s Permanent Representative to the UN Organizations in Rome, Ambassador Bruno Archi, who spoke on behalf of Italy’s Minister for Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests, Francesco Lollobrigida.
Describing the exhibition as both timely and deeply relevant, King Letsie III said, “It offers a unique platform for nations to showcase their agricultural heritage, achievements and aspirations. It reminds us that the journey of food, from the tiniest seed planted by a farmer's hand to the diverse and nutritious meals served on family tables around the world, is the story of human survival, resilience and innovation.”
Noting that the exhibition is ‘very close to our hearts’, Minister Pambudy said, “Behind every grain of rice or piece of fruit are the hands of farmers, both men and women, young and old, and they deserve not only praise but also respect, justice, and recognition for their hard work in growing our food.”
Rome is hosting with “great pride” the exhibition which is part of the long standing collaboration between the city and FAO, Councillor Alfonsi said, adding, "If we want to fight the inequalities of the world, we can only do so by starting from the seeds — and the seeds of all."
Ambassador Archi said, “Seeds are the beginning of everything — both literally and metaphorically. This exhibition is a true library of biodiversity that we must safeguard and protect,” he said.
A ceremonial ribbon cutting marked the official opening of the exhibition, followed by a guided tour through the regional and innovation pavilions.
The cultural segment featured a live performance by Guatemalan artist Sara Curruchich, main singer of the 2025 World Food Forum, and a culinary showcase by Italian Chef and FAO Food Hero Max Mariola.
Transforming the Park of Porta Capena into a living open-air gallery, the exhibition takes visitors on a journey that begins at the ‘Introductory Pavilion – Where the Journey Begins’, continues through six regional pavilions curated by FAO’s Regional Offices, passing through a ‘Main Stage’ —for dialogue, exchange and performances and culminating with a culinary area including ‘Foods of the World’.
Exhibits highlight both traditional practices and cutting-edge technologies — from a replica of the Svalbard Seed Vault to hydroponics greenhouses, agricultural drones, satellite systems, and even dogs trained to detect plant diseases.
The exhibition’s ‘Monumental Tree Pathway’ — a wooden walkway built with reclaimed pinewood to protect the roots of centuries-old trees — will remain as a symbolic legacy, donated to the City of Rome.
Throughout the four-day event, the ‘Main Stage’ will host workshops, talks and performances celebrating agricultural heritage, innovation and culture including — the Angklung Orchestra of Indonesia and a tribute to Ceres by the Cerealia Festival.
Held within the framework of the fifth edition of the World Food Forum and leading up to World Food Day 2025 on 16 October, ‘From Seeds to Foods’ marks a milestone in FAO’s 80-year journey to end hunger and malnutrition, and to promote the Four Betters - Better production, Better nutrition, a Better environment and a Better Life - leaving no one behind.