ROME — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Italy’s flagship Mattei Plan aims to tackle malnutrition, create jobs and strengthen Africa’s agricultural resilience, positioning food security at the center of Rome’s partnership with the continent.
Driving the news: In a video address to the 2026 World Food Forum, hosted at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Meloni outlined Italy’s approach to agricultural development in Africa.
- The Mattei Plan seeks to modernize agriculture, boost local production and create employment opportunities for young Africans.
- It also aims to make farming more resilient to climate change while strengthening countries’ ability to manage their own food systems.
The big picture: Meloni framed food security as a strategic issue extending beyond agricultural production, linking it to economic development, national sovereignty and geopolitical stability.
- “Food security does not simply mean producing food, but enabling nations to produce, process and distribute it independently,” she said.
Why it matters: Rome sees agricultural cooperation as a pillar of its broader strategy to deepen Europe-Africa ties through the Mattei Plan, emphasizing local ownership and partnerships based on mutual benefit.
By the numbers: Meloni noted that global hunger has declined for three consecutive years, but 645 million people still face hunger, with Africa accounting for the largest share.
- “The problem is not a lack of land, but a lack of tools to make it productive,” she said.
What else: Meloni highlighted Italy’s longstanding cooperation with the FAO, including in food emergencies, and offered to share expertise from Italy’s agricultural and food-processing industries.
The bottom line: Meloni argued that Africa’s food security depends on building self-sufficient agricultural systems, with Italy seeking to position itself as a partner in that transformation.
