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There were no significant areas of divergence during the dialogue.

Session 2: Convergences and synergies between Italian visions and commitments towards the United Nations Food Systems Summit In the synthesis of the Dialogue “Losses, Agri-food Surpluses, Domestic Waste and Mediterranean diet: Vision and Commitment of the Italian Agri-food System” it was highlighted that waste is linked to the sustainability of food systems. It was briefly presented the document on visions and commitments for the UN Food Systems Summit, structured in four areas / objectives, co-developed and shared by the main stakeholders of the Italian agri-food system: 1) to reduce agri... Read more-food losses in the steps from agricultural production up to distribution; 2) increase the recovery of agro-food surpluses in order to improve the distribution and access to food by all; 3) promote the prevention of food waste at home and outside the home; 4) promoting the adoption of a healthy and sustainable diet, such as MD, accessible to all, especially the poorest sections of the population. In the synthesis of the dialogue “Local Action, Global Connection”, the food transition was highlighted as an expression of a diversified, territorialized and responsible production and consumption system. It was pointed out the need that this transition takes place through: promotion of demand through a local vision of food sovereignty; landscape protection with agro-ecological production models; affirmation of the centrality of family farming; strengthening short supply chains and local markets; promotion of technological and social innovation to enhance local traditions; development of food education programs; enhancement of the role of networks, cities and public policies. In the summary on the dialogue “GOOD! The Good of the Mediterranean diet and Italian agrifood towards the Food System Summit ", the centrality of Italian agri-food enterprises in the transformation of food systems was highlighted. It was presented briefly the sharing path with them that gave life to the jointly document" United in Food " in which are identified 10 commitments of the Italian agri-food sector: i) sustainable production processes; ii) diets and healthy lifestyles, based on the principles of MD; iii) good corporate citizenship; iv) sustainable supply chains; v) corporate strategies and policies and profitability; vi) technological, organizational and social innovation; vii) evaluation mechanisms; viii) training and updating; ix) networks and alliances; x) alignment with international objectives. In the synthesis of the “Integrated Program of Action on Sustainable Food Systems and the Revitalization of the Mediterranean diet” by the CIHEAM-Bari, it was highlighted how its integrated approach was aimed at addressing the multiple interdependent challenges of today associated with the unsustainability of food systems through the revitalization of MD, as a lever to link consumption and production in sustainable way. The activities carried out over the past ten years on the sustainability of food systems and diets, using the DM as a case study, were briefly described. Taking into account the evolution of the concept of MD, from an example of a healthy diet to a sustainable diet model, it was highlighted the need to finalize the process of development of "Voluntary Guidelines for the Sustainability of MD", initiated in 2017 with FAO and the need of identification and development of indicators for assessing the different dimensions of the nutritional, environmental, economic, socio-cultural sustainability of the MD. As part of the development of the Flagships and the Community of Practice of the SFS-MED Platform, some initial priority actions were also pointed: collect and share data, lessons learned and best practices on SFS and MD; develop and implement methodologies for analyzing the sustainability of fisheries, agri-food products and Mediterranean diet patterns; develop and implement self-assessment models of corporate sustainability; enhance research, innovation, training and education on SFS and MD; enhance green economy, blue growth, circular economy and One-Health approaches. Read less

Session 1: Towards a sustainable food system Social, economic and environmental changes of recent years, together with the current COVID-19 pandemic, have highlighted a global vulnerability of food systems. This vulnerability needs to be faced through an integrated approach for a food systems transformation towards sustainability, in which Italy can make an important contribution within the Summit in tracing the direction of this transformation. The Italian approach to food is based on the primacy of quality over quantity and the link between agrifood production and the territory. The Italian ... Read morefood system was highlighted in valorizing in the best way foods at the base of MD, as well as, respects the marine and mountain ecosystems, and favors the economic, environmental, social, cultural diversity and the diversification of marketing channels. It was pointed out that the transformation of food systems needs to take place by acting on both supply and demand with an integrated approach on the food environment to influence consumer choices through a process known as "soft power", i.e. education and positive examples of best practices and lessons learned. The Italian food culture, directly linked to MD, was highlighted as a fundamental resource of “soft power” to lead the transformation of the food system. However, the Italian food system is influenced by globalization and, therefore, it is necessary to redesign the transformation around territorial specificities through a convergence between social networks and the involvement of all stakeholders, in particular local ones. The transformation of the Italian food system also implies the promotion of healthier and more sustainable eating habits. The increased malnutrition among the Italian population has shown an imbalance in the supply of food, especially for the weaker segments of the population. Many scientific studies have highlighted the value of the MD in ensuring nutritious foods, and It is necessary to enhance the nutritional-health profile of these foods at the base of MD to prevent and combat chronic non-communicable diseases (eg obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, etc.). Furthermore, it was highlighted the need to increase the consumer awareness on the multiple sustainable benefits of MD, through more understandable food labels to facilitate informed food choices. It was pointed out also the need to promote foods rich in vegetable proteins (eg legumes), to support the sustainability of food production chains, in particular short supply chains, to guarantee food at fair prices, to encourage food transformation processes that through "mild technologies" preserve the nutritional value of food and extend its the shelf-life, to allow the enhancement of waste by reduce the use of plastics for packaging and promoting sustainable packaging. The food systems transformation and the ecological transition should be achieved jointly by addressing with an integrated approach their interconnected environmental, economic and social criticalities. The food policies supported by the Italian Ministry for Agriculture were highlighted to be linked to each other and to global policies (eg Agenda 2030, Farm to Fork Strategy). As part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, it was pointed out that next investments should be aimed at enhancing the supply chains of MD products. The resources of marine systems and aquaculture can make an important contribution to the promotion of MD and be a pillar for building more sustainable food systems. In this context, the SFS-MED Platform, initiated by CIHEAM, FAO and UfMS and with its coordination desk at the CIHEAM-Bari, was identified as key to facilitate the development of guidelines for the sustainability of food products and MD patterns, and for the exchange of knowledge of best practices and lessons learned, becoming also for Italy an intelligent engine for investments, benchmarks and partnerships. Furthermore, MD as a "format" rich in culture and healthy and sustainable food products, was pointed could be promoted abroad as a virtuous model thus also enhancing the Made in Italy. Read less

The need to act together and to give a direction for the food systems transformation proposed by the UN Summit towards sustainability emerged from the debate. It was highlighted the complexity of the food systems environment, and how interconnected and interdependent challenges facing the transformation of food systems towards require to be addressed through a systemic integrated sustainable approach. It was pointed out that food systems transformation and ecological transition should be jointly achieved by taking into account environmental, economic and social issues in an integrated way. It ... Read morewas highlighted that today all countries are becoming aware that the ways of food production and the foods we eat affect the health of people and the planet. The Mediterranean Diet (DM) was pointed out as an important strategic asset for Italy by linking together “food, culture and diets” within the context of the sustainable transformation of food systems by enhancing biodiversity and taking care of the ecosystems. It was pointed out that the Italian food system is influenced by globalization (abandonment of inland rural areas, obesity, etc.) and the increase in malnutrition among the Italian population has highlighted an imbalance in the supply of food, especially for the weaker sections of the population. Therefore, it was pointed out necessary the involvement of all stakeholders, particularly local ones, for a food system sustainable transformation around the DM model and territorial specificities. By considering the erosion of the MD as an intangible UNESCO Cultural Heritage and by considering that the data show that the adherence of the Italian population to the MD is very low, it was also highlighted the need of more institutional communication to promote the DM, not only as a healthy diet, but also as a sustainable diet, with multiple socio-cultural, environmental, economic, and health/nutrition benefits, including food waste reduction. The reduction of agri-food losses, the recovery of surpluses for a better availability of food, the prevention of waste at home and outside the home, the adoption of a healthy diet, sustainable and accessible to all, such as the MD represent a challenge for Italy and for the whole world, made particularly urgent by the pandemic crisis. It was highlighted the need to promote the best practices of the excellence of Italian agri-food production and fisheries by valorizing their high values in combining food cultures, technological and social innovation, efficiency, productivity and sustainability of the food chains, closed linked to territories, local producers, farmers and fishermen. Innovation, both technological and social, was pointed as a crucial key for the development of an effective green, blue and circular economy at the centre of a sustainable transformation of food systems. The important contribution of the marine resources and aquaculture was highlighted for building more sustainable food systems and revitalizing the MD. The enhancement of local rural and coastal communities was considered relevant with particular attention to the inclusion of youth and women. It was highlighted the need of promoting a consumer ethic that links individual choices to the well-being of the community and the food diversification leverage the synergies between biological, economic, social and cultural diversity. The need of a paradigm shift was highlighted in which food needs to be considered a right and not just a "commodity", and as it was pointed out a green transition cannot exist without a social equity. It was highlighted the activities and cooperation that CIHEAM Bari has developed in the last ten years on the sustainability of food systems and diets, using the MD as a case study to connect production and consumption in a sustainable way, going beyond the limit of the usual agricultural production approach. The “SFS-MED Platform”, a multistakeholder collaborative initiative on sustainable food systems in the Mediterranean, under co-development by CIHEAM, FAO and UfMS, inclusive of all interested actors, was pointed out as a strategic initiative for collaboration through its “SFS-MED flagship” and “SFS-MED Community of Practice”. It was highlighted the integrated approach of the CIHEAM-Bari’s action plan for coping with the multiple challenges for improving the sustainability of food systems, from production to consumption and viceversa, and revitalizing the MD as a sustainable resource as well as an integral part of the Italian Mediterranean cultural heritage. It was introduced the preparatory process for the organization of the 3rd World Mediterranean Diet Conference that CIHEAM-Bari is planning in early 2022, as a follow up to the 2nd World Conference held in 2019 in Palermo. It was pointed out in the conclusions that the main findings emerged from this dialogue were fully in line with the priorities of the Matera G20 Declaration of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Economic Development, held in Matera in June 2021, such as: food and nutrition security, respect human rights and gender equality, the promotion of sustainable food systems and the involvement of smallholders. At the end of this dialogue, it was considered by the participants to jointly organize a collaborative side event at the G20 meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture in Florence, in September 2021. Read less

The major focus of this independent dialogue, under the auspices of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Italian Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, was to provide a comprehensive view of the of three previous Independent Italian Summit dialogues, convened in June 2021, and the integrated action program by CIHEAM-Bari on sustainable food systems and the revitalization of the Mediterranean Diet for identifying convergences and synergies among them. Its aim was to contribute, as a collaborative effort, in the development of a common Italian... Read more action towards the UNFSS Summit and post-Summit process. for a sustainable transformation of food systems in Italy, inclusive of the participation of all actors interested in giving life to a multi-stakeholder joint effort. To organize this dialogue, as a fourth Italian independent dialogue, was a challenging opportunity to discuss and reflect together with the three curators of these Dialogues about interlinkages among them and the CIHEAM’s action programme, to better understand how to jointly move together towards the Summit and its Post-Summit process. Reflections emerged from the discussion sessions highlighted the food systems complexity and the need to take into consideration local specificities and cultural aspects of the Italian food context, within its broader Mediterranean environment. The Dialogue was also an opportunity to explore further interlinkages with the “SFS-MED Platform”, a multi-stakeholder initiative currently under co-development by CIHEAM, FAO and UfMS, with its coordination desk hosted at the CIHEAM-Bari. Read less