Climate, health and nutrition: the European summit on innovations and sustainability, speaking to politicians, entrepreneurs and civil society

ROMA – The very close link between the changing climate, health and the possibility of producing food for the planet in a fair, balanced and ecologically acceptable way is at the center of the European summit on innovation for sustainability, organized together with theEXPRESSION (the UN Agricultural Development Fund) fromHIM – European Institute of Innovation for Sustainability a private body for training in the field of sustainability, carried out through courses, post-graduate masters, certification programs and workshop for graduates, managers and companies. This was all made possible with the support of the European Parliament.

The objectives. The objectives are to bring together politicians, decision-makers from the public and private sectors and civil society to engage in discussions and dialogues to encourage co-financing innovative processes and approaches. The two-day event in Rome – 10 and 11 May 2024 – will feature presentations, roundtables, workshops and an exhibition area to showcase unique testimonials from companies and organizations working towards sustainability. The guiding principle of the Summit is therefore that it is necessary to implement radical innovations in the business world as soon as possible, stimulating different mentalities at the top of companies.

The witness. The witness. Gladys Morales Guevara, Colombian, is IFAD’s young global innovation manager. We exchanged some reflections on the program with her Moonshot for development which will be presented at the Summit. An initiative born in 2020 with the ambition of supporting and financing solutions that can generate sustainable and long-lasting impact. An alliance between multilateral development banks, international financial institutions and bodies such as EIIS with the aim of offering financing and technical assistance to young entrepreneurs from local communities who, with their commitment and knowledge of technologies, in particular artificial intelligence , contribute to improving the lives of rural populations.

Sustainable innovations. “The innovations we will talk about have to do with science, especially with respect to health, but also with different methods and processes, some of which may also take inspiration from abandoned practices of the past, but which instead can still reveal today, revisiting them and updating them, their effectiveness. But above all – underlined Gladys H. Morales – sustainable innovations will have to pass through true and direct participation of local communities of small farmers. This practice has always characterized IFAD’s work in the field”.

Match the choices with the ideas of the communities. Therefore, the discussion on the very close links between climate, global health and nutrition must induce politics, the business world and civil society organizations to match the choices that are made with the ideas that emerge from the communities of small farmers. which – it is always good to remember – produce 1/3 of the food consumed in the entire world.