New York, September 24 – “Italian food is culture, tradition, and quality. Please help spread this message across America.” These were the words of Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, during his address at the Columbus Citizens Foundation in New York, at the event “Italian Agri-Food: A Model of Longevity for the World.” The event was organized in collaboration with Coldiretti and Filiera Italia as part of the House of Made in Italy project, on the occasion of the Fourth UN High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases.
Also in attendance were Deputy Minister Edmondo Cirielli, Italy’s new Ambassador to the United States Marco Peronaci, and Stefano Pisani, Mayor of Pollica, the symbolic city of the Mediterranean Diet. The event aimed to promote the Italian agri-food model as a global tool for health and prevention, emphasizing that the Mediterranean Diet is not only a gastronomic heritage but also a way of life.
Professor Annamaria Colao, Chair of Endocrinology and Vice President of the Higher Health Council, reminded attendees that 60% of deaths caused by chronic diseases can be prevented through a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition. “Eating according to the Mediterranean tradition means choosing natural foods, cooking them slowly, and sharing meals with family. It’s an act of culture and togetherness,” she noted, citing over 10,000 scientific studies confirming its benefits in preventing diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as several types of cancer.
“We bring to the world not just products, but a model of sustainable well-being,” concluded Tajani, reaffirming Italy’s role as a global ambassador of health, longevity, and culture. Representatives from Coldiretti and Filiera Italia, led by Luigi Scordamaglia, highlighted the need to protect the Mediterranean Diet from the risks associated with ultra-processed foods, stressing the importance of nutrition education.
House of Made in Italy, a project promoted by I Love Italian Food together with the Columbus Citizens Foundation, thus confirms itself as a strategic platform for cultural diplomacy and the promotion of Made in Italy in the United States. Through events like this, the initiative fosters dialogue between institutions, the scientific community, and businesses, spreading the values of Italian agri-food culture as a model of health, sustainability, and conviviality for the world.
House of Made in Italy is a project by I Love Italian Food and the Columbus Citizens Foundation, carried out under the patronage of the Italian Trade Agency and ENIT, with the support of Coldiretti and Filiera Italia.
Sponsors: Agriform, Mulino Caputo, Casa Modena, Ciao Il pomodoro di Napoli, Filicori Zecchini, Acetaia Giusti, Granterre, Lurisia, Monini, Parmareggio, Mionetto, Effeuno, Il Newyorkese, Marino PR, La Gazzetta dello Sport, and Istituto 100% Italiano.
