FAO Holds Conference in Rome to Promote Social Business
Yunus Centre Press Release (May 10, 2016, Rome, Italy:):
Professor Yunus was the chief guest at a special event organized by FAO on 'Social Business for Zero Hunger'. The event was organized by Director General of FAO to bring together the top executives of food industry to discuss the role social business can play to achieve zero hunger. The event was addressed by Director General of FAO Jose Graziano who highlighted the role of social business in achieving zero hunger. Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus gave the keynote speech at the conference. Professor Yunus pointed out food security was going to be a major challenge in the coming years. Not only providing food everybody will be the issue, it is also important to ensure nutrition for all. We need to find ways to encourage the rural young people to turn themselves into entrepreneurs through social businesses in collaboration with food companies. Exodus of young people can slowed down and stopped ultimately by making rural economy an agro-based economy through intervention of social business.
Agriculture minister of Italy Maurizio Martina, Vice President of Italian Parliament Maria sereni, and President of the Italian Farmers Confederation Dino Scanavino addressed the gathering and talked about the role of social business in ending hunger on a global level. The opening session was followed by high level panel discussions on social business.
The first panel was on the role of food industry to reach zero hunger through social business and included the President of leading Italian food company Ferrero, CEO of McCain Europe, Senior Advisor of Mars company, Professor Yunus, and moderated by Marcela Villarealz, Director of Partnerships at FAO. Second panel was on the role to be played by banks in furthering social business to achieve zero hunger. Top executives of MasterCard, Rabobank of Netherlands, Grameen Credit Agricole and other European banks spoke in the panel. Professor Yunus gave examples of companies already involved in social business to tackle hunger and malnutrition.
In the evening Secretary General of IDLO Irene khan held a reception in honor of Professor Yunus attended by Chairman of the Italian Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the Under Secretary of State for foreign affairs of the Italian government. Prof Yunus spoke on how laws around the world needed to be changed to put poor people's needs at the centre.
Caption -1: Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus is seen at the FAO organized event 'Social Business for Zero Hunger' where he presented the keynote speech as the chief guest. Director General of FAO, Jose Graziano and the Italian Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry, Maurizio Martina are seen besides Professor Yunus.
Caption -2: From left to right, Director General of FAO, Mr Jose Graziano, Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus and Ms Marina Sereni,Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies in the Italian Parliament.
Caption – 3: From left to right, Maurizio Martina, Italian Minister of Agricultural, Food and Forestry, Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus and Ms Marina Sereni,Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies in the Italian Parliament.
Source: Yunus Centre
Updated Date: 23rd January, 2017