ITALY
Italy is driving global food systems transformation through the UN. At home, it is protecting biodiversity via national legislation, and has built one of Europe’s strongest organic-food production bases.
Vision
‘’Transforming food systems is at the heart of Italy’s global agenda for sustainable development and climate action. Without transforming how we produce, trade, and consume food, we cannot deliver on the Paris Agreement promise. Italy is proud to stand with fellow champions to build food systems that nourish people, restore nature, and sustain our planet’s future.’’
H.E. Ambassador Stefano Gatti
Director General for Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Highlights
A driving force for global food systems transformation: Italy hosts the UN food systems architecture in Rome. It has driven the UN Food Systems Summit process, hosting the Pre-Summit (2021) and the UNFSS+2 Stocktaking Moment (2023) and co-hosting UNFSS+4 with Ethiopia in Addis Ababa (2025). During its 2024 G7 Presidency it also launched the Apulia Food Systems Initiative.
Italy has built one of Europe’s strongest organic-food production bases: 20.5% of agricultural land was organic in 2024, up from 16.7% in 2021, putting it close to the 25% national target.
Biodiversity is being embedded in agricultural policy and law: Italy's National Biodiversity Strategy sets a target for at least 10% of agricultural land to be kept as high-diversity landscape features (e.g. hedgerows, field margins, ponds, tree lines and other patches of natural habitat that support wildlife). An estimated 7–9% of farmland already meets that standard.
Reports and resources
2026 progress snapshot
- HIGHLIGHTS
- Headline Areas of Progress in 2026
- Country context
- KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN 2025/26
- LEADERSHIP IN FOOD SYSTEMS TRANSFORMATION:
DRIVING GLOBAL CHANGE