The Symposium will take place in Rome from 3rd to 5th November 2010 at FAO's Rome headquarters. 

The alarming pace of biodiversity loss and related ecosystem degradation, their negative impact on food access, poverty and health makes a compelling case for re-examining food system and diets.

Presently, close to one billion people worldwide suffer from hunger and another two billion suffer from micronutrient deficiencies.

There is doubtless an urgent need to develop and promote strategies for sustainable diets, emphasizing the positive role of food biodiversity in human nutrition and poverty alleviation.

The purpose of the Symposium is to debate at highest levels about the impact of food consumption patterns on agricultural production, environment and poverty alleviation.

Dr. Andrea Poli, on Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition, on Friday 5th at h.11 during his speech “Healthy food for people, sustainable food for the planet”, is going to show the scientific importance of Double Pyramid,  a simple model able to combine nutritional needs and environmental respect.

Double Pyramid demonstrates that a balanced food consumption pattern, that follows the principles of Mediterranean Diet, not only gives a  correct nutritional intake but is also more sustainable for environment.

In other words,  the food which is recommended more frequent consumption, are also those with minor environmental impacts.