Climate crisis risks leading to standardised food, says minister Patuanelli. He was speaking at the “People, Planet, Prosperity” event at the Italy Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Agriculture Minister Stefano Patuanelli on Tuesday warned the climate and ecological crisis could take the world to increasingly consume standardised food.
“There’s a risk that climate change and desertification will lead us to see the answer in the production of synthetic, laboratory food that is the same for everyone,” Patuanelli said. He was speaking at the “People, Planet, Prosperity” event at the Italy Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.
Food is a link to history and culture
“The European One Health strategy must not be confused with a One Diet strategy. The risk I see ahead is a path of global standardisation of agrofood production”, continued Patuanelli.
“I think, on the other hand, that food represents a link to the history, traditions, culture and religions of each country that cannot be allowed to be lost.
Related article: Christmas fish feast
“The correct use of innovation and technology can help us prevent food becoming a pill that we take twice a day. “Technology must be at the service of the objectives we have to achieve, not dominate them.
“It can support us to produce greater quantities of food of the same quality and it can help us to waste less water, which will be the ‘oil’ of all the world’s countries for the next 50 years, and it can help us to use fewer fertilisers and chemicals. This is the technology that we must develop and share with all countries”.