At this year’s World Food Forum Flagship Event held on October 10–17 at the FAO Headquarters in Rome, ISF joined the global agrifood community united under the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future.”
The event brought together 16,500 participants from 193 countries, with more than 60,000 joining online, to discuss how collaboration and innovation can drive sustainable food systems.
Focus on Food Loss and Waste
During the Youth Assembly: Europe & Central Asia Regional Roundtable, which focused on food loss and waste, ISF Secretary General Michael Keller represented the seed sector. He underscored how innovation at the very beginning of the food chain can help reduce food loss and waste, calling for a systemic approach that bridges science, policy, and practice.
Andrés Guleed Davoud, ISF Junior Communications Officer and member of the World Food Forum Youth Policy Board for Europe & Central Asia 2025-2026, initiated the invitation to participate in this discussion. Andrés emphasized the importance of intergenerational partnerships and the active role of youth in shaping resilient and inclusive food systems.
By empowering young professionals and strengthening intergenerational dialogue, ISF continues to champion innovation, collaboration, and shared responsibility for a more sustainable and resilient global agrifood future.
‘From Seeds to Foods’ Global Exhibition
In celebration of FAO’s 80th anniversary, ISF joined the first ‘From Seeds to Foods’ global exhibition,which aimed to highlight the intersection of ancient knowledge and cutting-edge technologies for the sustainable transformation of global agri-food systems.
The private seed sector, represented by the ISF and Assosementi – Associazione Italiana Sementieri e Vivaisti, hosted a booth showcasing how sustainable – and delicious – food starts with innovation in plant breeding. Visitors, including FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu, FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol, and His Majesty the King of Lesotho, who is also FAO’s Nutrition Ambassador, explored high-quality seeds and traced the journey of the seed thanks to UFS’s “Parcours de la semence” website.
ISF Secretary General Michael Keller shared: “Seeds are hope. Seeds are opportunities. Seeds are the key driver for food solutions. This was the message from Rome: seeds are at the heart of sustainable food systems and global nutrition. These words, shared during the opening ceremony, perfectly capture the spirit of the ISF and Assosementi booth.”#
