The Italian Government will play host to the Pre-Meet gathering for the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, which aims to “unleash ambitious new actions, innovative solutions, and plans to transform our food systems” and deliver progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.

UN Food Systems SummitTaking place in Rome, the three-day gathering will bring together stakeholders, including smallholder farmers, indigenous peoples, researchers, the private sector, policy leaders and ministers of agriculture, environment, health, and finance, to set the tone and ambition for the September Summit.

“The Pre-Summit in Italy will be a key moment for mobilizing the bold commitments we need to build sustainable food systems that work for people, planet, and prosperity,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “Through accelerated action, we can help the world recover better from COVID-19, combat rising hunger and address the climate crisis.”

Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi added, “We want to address the issue of food security within our broad agenda as President of the G20. Together with the UN and its agencies based in Rome, Italy will engage with its partners to promote better agriculture, sustainable value chains and healthy lifestyles.”

The Pre-Meet is expected to take place in a hybrid format, with participants joining in person or via a virtual platform.