The Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations, in collaboration with that of Morocco, organized a conference in New York to discuss the benefits of the Mediterranean diet as a tool for achieving the 2030 sustainable development goals.
The Mediterranean Diet and UNESCO Heritage
Recognized as a UNESCO heritage site, the Mediterranean diet could soon have a dedicated world day, thanks to the efforts of Italy and Morocco. The conference saw the town of Pollica, in Cilento, Campania, propose itself as a candidate for UNESCO's "creative city of gastronomy."
Key Interventions and Debates
During the event, which took place in conjunction with the celebrations of the week of Italian cuisine in the world, significant contributions were presented. Speakers included, among others, the Italian ambassador to the UN Maurizio Massari and the Moroccan chargé d'affaires Majda Moutchou. Important contributions also came from experts such as Alessio Fasano (Harvard University) and Roberto Vicinanza (University of Southern California).
Conclusion of the Celebrations
As part of the celebrations, at the end of the conference, the participants moved to the entrance of the General Assembly, where a large audience of diplomats and UN officials were able to appreciate Cilento specialties and Moroccan sweets.
The conference on the Mediterranean diet is very important, but I noticed that not all the participants were present, and so we could not discuss in depth. It would be good to have more opportunities of this kind in the future.