Hon’ble Sanam Lyonpo attends World Food Forum 2025 edition in Rome, Italy

His Excellency Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL), accompanied by officials from the Ministry are in FAO HQ Rome, Italy to participate in key segments of the World Food Forum (WFF) 2025 and the Hand-in-Hand Initiative (HiHi) Investment Forum from 13th to 17th October 2025.

On 13th October 2025, Honorable Sanam Lyonpo (HSL) and his delegation formally attended the Grand Opening of World Food Forum 2025, held at FAO headquarters under the theme "Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future", in celebration of FAO's 80th anniversary. During the opening ceremony, dignitaries from across the globe delivered remarks emphasizing the need for renewed political will, cross-sector partnerships, and investment to accelerate agrifood systems transformation. Later that day, HSL visited the Bhutanese youth-led exhibition booth, which showcased Bhutan's agrifood journey from traditional farming, sustainable practices, to emerging innovations aligning with the World Food Forum's Indonesia chapter's youth programming and exhibitions. The Bhutanese display drew attention to how youth across regions are bridging heritage and modern agritech solutions, contributing to WFF's youth engagement pillar. On 14th October 2025, HSL joined the Opening Session of the Hand-in-Hand Initiative (HIHI) Forum Investment, a core pillar of WFF that convenes countries, investors, and development partners in matchmaking dialogues. The 2025 edition gathers representatives from over 31 countries and six regions, underlining FAO's role as a facilitator connecting investment opportunities with countries' agrifood priorities.

The HiHi now supports more than 80 member countries, leveraging geospatial analysis, national planning, and partnership building to drive inclusive agrifood investment. In the evening, HSL delivered a keynote address entitled "From Potential to Progress: FAO Driving Excellence in Youth Programming for Agrifood Systems Transformation", highlighting how young people globally are stepping forward with creativity, resilience and urgency. He emphasized their role in rethinking production, distribution, consumption and emergence of youth led agrifood enterprises and climate smart solutions that have the potential to shift entire systems. His Excellency also delivered a keynote address during the event organised by the Bhutan youth Chapter, "Mindful Food Futures - Bhutan's Living Wisdom Meets Global Agri-food Innovation," jointly organized by FAO Bhutan and the World Food Forum. The forum brought together government representatives, development partners, youth networks, and innovators from across the globe. The event, "Mindfulness in Action," offers an immersive journey into Bhutan's mindful approach to sustainable agrifood systems, combining reflection, innovation, and storytelling. The Ministry's active participation in the WFF and Investment Forum underscores Bhutan's commitment to youth empowerment, sustainable agriculture, and global cooperation in transforming agrifood systems. The Ministry's engagements and address projected Bhutan's vision of inclusive, youth centered agrifood development within the global framework of FAO's 2030 goals.