The Edible Planet Summit:in Umbria, the first world summit dedicated to food

From sustainable food production to food waste, from the loss of biodiversity to climate changes, from animal welfare to good table habits:ours in the last decade relationship with the food has changed radically and the agri-food system must respond to epochal challenges to ensure healthy products with low environmental impact to one increasing global population. 

From the need to discuss these issues globally and to do so in a new way, the first world meeting dedicated to food:from 16 to 19 September, in Umbria, it will take place The Edible Planet Summit, an event that will bring together one hundred and fifty international experts (representatives of industry and agriculture, NGOs, institutions such as the FAO, and then politicians, influencers, researchers) who will work together for three days to define concrete strategies and guidelines with the aim of ferrying the current food system towards a more sustainable model. 

Sharon Cittone, creator of the summit:“We need a food system that regenerates the planet, there is no longer time to delay”

The event was created by Sharon Cittone, founder of Edible Planet Ventures, a holistic platform where stakeholders from the global food chain can share know-how, resources and best practices.“Today, an ever-increasing number of people embrace new ways of consumption, guaranteeing the transition towards a new economic and cultural paradigm", explains Cittone, defined by Forbes one of the most influential women in the world in shaping the future of food.“This mobilization brings with it the idea of ​​a food system radically different from the current one.A system that regenerates the planet, that restores people's dignity and promotes everyone's health.And on a planet with nine billion people to feed, the challenges are many and can no longer be postponed.I would say that innovating is very important and it is not simply the innovation of the product, but of the entire agri-food process, from transformation at the logistics level to packaging, to the great climate challenges.Now there's no time to delay."

The Edible Planet Summit, an unconventional convention to develop a document of concrete actions for change

The Edible Planet Summit stands as new format, like a “regenerative retreat” more than a summit.“The critical issues affecting the agri-food system are complex and so are the related solutions.The fragmentation of knowledge contributes to adding further fuel to the fire and slowing down real progress.Every self-respecting state and multinational has placed food security among its priorities, defining its own guidelines and sustainability objectives.The truth is that the problems are of such magnitude that no one can do it alone.We need an approach that looks at the problems of the current model of food production and consumption from multiple points of view." 

Agri-food supply chains are complex systems that require a innovative vision and of a collaborative approach to face all the nerves that the pandemic before and the Ukrainian conflict now have exposed. For this, the participants of the summit will be involved in a mosaic of one-to-one meetings, co-design activities, workshops, immersive experiences and networking.About twenty will be organised working tables divided by theme which will address all aspects of the food chain such as regenerative agriculture, food waste, nutrition and health, food sovereignty, first in a discussion limited to each table, then in an exchange of ideas between the various groups.The synthesis work will be the realization of the Edible Planet Charter which – they say – is not a manifesto of ideas, but a document of concrete actions.

 

“We need dialogues, not monologues, we need to change our actions, build deep relationships and support each other's efforts.Only if we are able to work together, armed with ambition and creativity, will these efforts be rewarded.Our Charter will be the result of a holistic approach, which involves all the players in the supply chain.It will not be imposed from above and decisions will not be made only by governors or CEOs of large corporations, but will also involve the base, starting with those who produce the food.Finally, ours will be a Charter not of principles, on which we all agree, but of concrete guidelines to implement the change that we all hope for from the following day."Among the participants of the event Hunter Lovins, environmentalist and author of Natural Capitalism And Nathalie Kelley, actress and ambassador of Kiss the Ground, a movement committed to spreading regenerative agriculture.