Professor of Environmental Policy and Planning delivers closing speech at prestigious event in Milan

Professor Roberta Sonnino delivered the closing address at the Signing Ceremony of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact on Thursday 15 October.

The Milan Urban Food Policy Pact is an international protocol for the development of food systems based on the principles of sustainability and social justice. 100 cities from all over the world have decided to commit themselves to enhance their urban food systems

Professor Sonnino was invited to participate in the final keynote address at the Mayors Summit in Milan alongside Neven Mimica, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation & Development, Vytenis Andriukaitis, EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Ann Tutwiler, President of Bioversity International and Carlo Petrini, President of Slow Food International

The high profile event brought together 30 mayors and delegations from the participating cities alongside EU Commissioners. The first keynote address of the day came via video message from HRH The Prince of Wales for an official signing ceremony of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact.

Professor Sonnino has extensive research experience focussing on the relationship between theory and practice of sustainable development, with particular reference to food. Her research on local food systems, rural development, public procurement and urban food planning has received media coverage in Italy, the UK, the USA, Finland and Denmark.

She says of her invitation to speak at this event: “As the final speaker at this event I focussed on the future of urban food policies, and what I consider the main ingredients needed to ensure that the protocol will bring about a (much needed) sustainable transformation of the food system. This event marked a great moment in the history of food. I was both excited and humbled to be invited to deliver the closing talk.”

Following the Mayors Summit the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact was presented to Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations.