A taste of Europe and Central Asia: heritage and innovation in Rome

30/10/2026

Where ancient Roman chariots once raced, visitors gathered to discover how farmers, food producers, researchers and young innovators across Europe and Central Asia are shaping the future of food.

At Rome’s historic Circo Massimo, the Europe and Central Asia Pavilion of the ’From Seeds to Foods’ exhibit brought together agricultural traditions, local knowledge and cutting-edge technologies, showing how the region’s rich food heritage can help build more sustainable and resilient agrifood systems.

Held over five days, the second edition of the global exhibition organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), offered visitors an opportunity to explore the journey of food from production to consumption. 

Bringing together more than 90 exhibitors from over 25 countries, the pavilion reflected the region’s geographical and cultural diversity, with contributions from farmers, research institutions, governments, businesses, civil society organizations and young innovators. The global exhibition welcomed more than 25 000 visitors.

Under the theme Rooted in Nature, Powered by People, the Europe and Central Asia Pavilion highlighted the links between nature, traditional knowledge, science and investment. Four thematic areas – Nature as the Source, People and Knowledge, Science and Innovation, and Investment and Partnerships – illustrated how these elements can work together to transform agrifood systems.

“Science and innovation come together with traditional knowledge, preserving what works, adapting to change and finding new ways to produce food sustainably,” said Viorel Gutu, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia.

Ideas worth growing: innovation in action

From biotechnology and precision irrigation to circular textiles and autonomous machinery, science and innovation were central to the pavilion experience.

Through interactive demonstrations and short talks, researchers, entrepreneurs and technology developers introduced visitors to practical approaches for making agrifood systems more efficient, resilient and sustainable.

Italy-based Orange Fiber demonstrated how by-products from citrus juice production can be transformed into textile fibres. Through its partnership with textile producer Lenzing, the company showed how circular economy approaches can give agricultural materials a second life, reducing waste and creating new opportunities for innovation beyond the food sector.

Research institutions also brought new perspectives on the future of food. Italy’s Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA) presented technological developments in wholegrain food processing, while Belgium’s Ghent University explored the potential of underutilized crops and alternative proteins, including through a presentation connecting food science with social media communication.

Biotization introduced applications of biotechnology in food and agriculture, highlighting another area of research with potential to contribute to agrifood systems transformation.

Innovation extended from food processing to the fields where crops are grown. WES TRADE, through its IRRIGOPTIMAL® technology, and Agricolus presented approaches to precision irrigation and digital farming, illustrating how data and technology can support agricultural decision-making and more efficient resource use.

Ukraine’s GF Robotics brought another dimension to agricultural innovation. Its autonomous farming technologies demonstrated how mechanization and robotics can respond to the safety challenges faced by farmers working in conflict-affected areas.

The programme also explored the importance of protecting the natural resources on which food production depends. The Save the Soil Global Movement contributed perspectives on soil conservation, connecting technological innovation with the need to safeguard healthy and productive soils.

Together, these examples showed how research institutions, technology companies and civil society organizations are approaching agrifood challenges from different perspectives – from conserving resources and developing new foods to improving farm safety and reducing waste.

Rooted in nature and traditional knowledge

At the heart of the pavilion, the Tree of Life – Voices from the Field, a wooden art installation reflecting the circular economy, brought farmers’ experiences to the forefront, highlighting their role in conserving biodiversity, sustaining rural livelihoods and transforming agrifood systems.

Visitors also discovered the essential role of pollinators through an interactive Beehive in a Box display and honey tastings led by beekeepers from Association Api Sparse. The activities illustrated how healthy ecosystems underpin agricultural production and food security.

Celebrating the region’s rich food heritage

Food was also at the centre of the visitor experience. Over five days, visitors sampled regional specialities from across Europe and Central Asia, including olive oil, honey, breads, dairy products and wines. 

An olive oil masterclass explored the cultural and environmental significance of olive cultivation. The programme also included tastings of products promoted through FAO's One Country One Priority Product initiative, showing how distinctive local foods can create opportunities for producers and rural communities.

Georgia’s culinary heritage took centre stage during a live cooking show organized in collaboration with Ristorante Georgiano Aisi in Rome, featuring three traditional dishes: Adjaruli khachapuri (a cheese-filled bread), khinkali (meat-filled dumplings), and kubdari (spiced meat bread). The demonstration offered a glimpse into culinary traditions passed down through generations.

Celebrating pastoralists and women farmers

The pavilion also provided a platform to recognize the people who sustain the region’s agricultural landscapes and food traditions.

On 10 October, activities at the Europe and Central Asia pavilion celebrated the 2026 International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists and the contributions of pastoralist communities to biodiversity, rural livelihoods and food traditions. 

The regional pavilion also paid tribute to the 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer, focusing on women's roles in safeguarding traditional seed varieties, preserving food knowledge and driving entrepreneurship and innovation. One of the exhibitors was Serbia's 100 Women Winery, a cooperative founded by women who planted vineyards near Niš. Today, it brings women from different backgrounds together to produce wine, building on local winemaking traditions while creating new opportunities in a male-dominated sector.

From local knowledge to a shared future 

Across the pavilion, one message emerged: transforming agrifood systems requires both the knowledge passed down through generations and the scientific advances that can help respond to new challenges.

At Circo Massimo, the journey from seeds to foods was ultimately a story about people – those who cultivate the land, preserve traditions, develop technologies, advance research and build partnerships.

By connecting nature, knowledge, science and innovation, the Europe and Central Asia Pavilion offered a glimpse of how collective action can contribute to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, leaving no one behind.