Junior World Food Day: Stars And Students Stir Up A Feast Of Fun With Fao

A Day of Culinary Celebration

Rome was abuzz with excitement as Italy’s national rugby players, activists, and influencers teamed up with Italian culinary maestro Alessandro Borghese and global star Monique Coleman. The occasion? Junior World Food Day! This year's event was extra special, marking the 80th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The atmosphere was electric with the energy of about 1,000 young students, aged 9 to 13, alongside 80 high school students from the World Food Forum School Assembly. As rugby players from the Federazione Italiana Rugby made a dramatic entrance, they were soon roped into an unexpected culinary challenge with Chef Borghese, cooking up a storm on stage with the kids.

“We need to work as a team – across generations and borders – to ensure everyone has enough food,” emphasized FAO Director General Qu Dongyu, highlighting the importance of collective action.

Inspiring Voices and Vibrant Performances

The event was a melting pot of inspiration and knowledge. Speakers and "Food Heroes" like Indigenous Leader Judy Kipkenda, Professor Ricardo Frugoli, and celebrity chefs Victoire Gouloubi and Xin Ge Liu shared tales of nutrition, food diversity, and reducing waste. Their stories and tips sparked the young audience's curiosity, filling FAO’s Plenary Hall with hope for a sustainable food future.

Adding flair to the celebration, Studio 7 delivered a dynamic break dance performance, while the Piccola Orchestra di Tor Pignattara and friends serenaded attendees with FAO’s 80th anniversary youth song, "Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future." The event also offered young participants a peek into FAO’s global efforts, including the new Food and Agriculture Museum and Network (FAOMuNe) and exciting youth activities like the global Poster Contest.

World Food Forum: A Global Gathering

Junior World Food Day was part of the larger World Food Forum, a week-long cavalcade of events drawing heads of state, government ministers, private sector reps, and more. This year, Pope Leo XIV delivered a stirring keynote on World Food Day, joining Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in highlighting global food security efforts.

The forum also hosted the Global Youth Forum, which united thousands of young visionaries, government officials, scientists, and partners, solidifying FAO’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of food system leaders.