Prof Eugenio Gaudio, rector of Sapienza and Daniel Gustafson, FAO deputy director general for operations, signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The collaboration focuses on strengthening statistical and data analysis, food safety and quality and increasing the role of agriculture in climate change related initiatives to strengthen food security.
“FAO and Italy have a common vision and share a common goal in achieving food security. With this MoU our engagement is expanding to key areas of work such as statistics, climate change and food quality and safety,” said Gustafson.
Prof Gaudio said collaborating with organisations such as FAO was strategically important.
“It allows our institutions to pool their resources and know-how on themes of global importance such as food security and climate change. The joint work will serve to inspire and motivate youth to find answers to the immense challenges related to the environment and malnutrition.”
Ambassador Pierfrancesco Sacco, Italian Permanent Representative to FAO, added: “We begin this venture with one of the greatest universities in the world, which, as FAO, is headquartered in Rome.
“As President Renzi advised during the World Food Day 2016 celebrations, we must always strive to work better together, Italy and FAO, in the fight against hunger and malnutrition.”