Italy renews support to use and safeguard agricultural biodiversity to nourish people and sustain the planet

In July 2016, the Italian Parliament ratified the hosting agreement between the Government of Italy and Bioversity International. The agreement was signed on 5 May 2016 in Rome at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The agreement reinforces the long-standing partnership between Bioversity International and Italy, especially through the Italian Cooperation, to advance research activities to use and safeguard agricultural biodiversity to nourish people and sustain the planet. 

Bioversity International is part of the Rome-based agencies, a group of international organizations based in Rome – including the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development – whose mission is to fight hunger and malnutrition, alleviate poverty and promote rural development.

“Italy is a crucial partner in our work and is the base of our headquarters and many of our scientists. The Italian Development Cooperation’s commitment to core funding underpins our research-for-development efforts to help ensure food and nutrition security around the world,” said M. Ann Tutwiler, Director General of Bioversity International.

Bioversity International’s fruitful partnership with the Italian Development Cooperation ranges from policy dialogue to knowledge exchange, and field cooperation across several priority areas, including sustainable rural development, resilient food systems, nutrition security, gender and climate change adaptation.

Find out more about how Italy supports Bioversity International’s research on agricultural biodiversity.