20 November 2014, Rome - The vision of a world where everyone has enough to eat and has access to healthy diets must be at the heart of new global targets on sustainable development, FAO Director-General, José Graziano da Silva, said today at the inauguration of an installation which will represent the United Nations at the Expo Milano 2015 universal trade exhibition.
The installation, a giant blue spoon, was unveiled during a ceremony at FAO's Rome headquarters. Made out of recyclable materials, and symbolizing a tool common to all food traditions, it represents the UN's Zero Hunger Challenge which aims to eradicate chronic undernourishment.
"It is a visual recognition of our commitment to a sustainable world with food security for all. In fact, the Zero Hunger vision must be the foundation of our post-2015 world," Graziano da Silva said referring to ongoing efforts by governments to set new global development goals and targets by the end of 2015.
The ceremony took place during the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) which was organized by FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO). Yesterday representatives from 172 countries, including 93 ministers, attending ICN2 approved the Rome Declaration on Nutrition and Framework for Action, embracing voluntary principles aimed at addressing major current nutrition challenges and identifying priorities for enhanced international cooperation on nutrition.
The ICN2 commitments "are the starting point for our renewed efforts. Expo 2015 is part of the same path," Graziano da Silva said speaking after the inauguration ceremony.
Also in attendance were Italian Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, Maurizio Martina, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations for Expo Milano 2015, Eduardo Rojas-Briales and, the Director of Institutional Affairs for Expo 2015 S.p.A, Roberto Arditti, as well as delegates attending ICN2 which began on Wednesday and ends on Friday.
The prototype installation presented today at FAO is only one of 18 large spoon installations that will link content along a United Nations itinerary at the Expo Milano 2015. The aim of the UN Itinerary is to promote the key message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon's "Zero Hunger Challenge", launched in 2012: we can end hunger in our lifetime.
The 18 multimedia installations represent the Zero Hunger Challange's five main pillars: zero stunted children less than two years; 100 percent access to adequate food all year round; all food systems are sustainable; 100 percent increase in smallholder productivity and income; zero loss or waste of food. It also draws particular attention to women's empowerment and gender equality.