FAO UN Model Programme – Rome

In 2023, Luiss University successfully organized a new edition of the Model UN in collaboration with the FAO.

The chosen theme was “The Great Climate Migration”: a remarkable simulation of the FAO Council, convened urgently in response to a massive migration crisis triggered by the effects of El Niño in East African countries. The students worked on a decision proposal to address the crisis.

Alessandro Bruneau, who played the role of the FAO Secretary-General in the simulation, said:
“Participating in the FAO Model UN at Luiss was an intense experience, full of inspiration and encounters with extraordinary people driven by a genuine passion for diplomacy. My sincere thanks go to the organizers for the care and precision with which the event was put together. A memorable experience that celebrates the power of collaboration and the potential of future generations.”

In 2024, the chosen theme was “The true cost of food security,” inspired by the FAO report “True cost accounting applications for agrifood systems policymakers,” published alongside “The State of Food and Agriculture 2023.”

A group of FAO Council Member States requested that an item be added to the agenda to address the hidden costs of agri-food systems, particularly those related to climate change, ecosystem degradation, the precariousness of workers in the sector, and health issues linked to food. The simulation then led participants to discuss the dysfunctionality of agri-food systems and its global repercussions.

FAO and Luiss have co-organizing also the 2025 event.

The theme selected for the 2025 UN Model Programme was “South-South and Triangular Cooperation - Sharing Experiences and Facilitating Collaborative Innovations”.

According to the 2024 FAO State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report, nearly 750 million people experienced hunger, with millions more suffering from various forms of malnutrition, including stunting, wasting, and obesity. In addition, the cost of healthy diets (CoHD) remains out of reach for over 3 billion people, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where food systems are often under-resourced and vulnerable to external shocks.

Despite these challenges, many countries in the Global South have demonstrated resilience and innovation in addressing food insecurity. These experiences offer valuable lessons that can be shared and adapted across regions facing similar challenges. In this context, South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) has emerged as a strategic and inclusive modality for development cooperation.

Recognizing the growing importance of SSTC, FAO Council Members have proposed a dedicated agenda item to explore how the Organization can scale up SSTC programmes to support Members in achieving their national SDG2 targets and advancing the transformation into sustainable, inclusive, and resilient agrifood systems.

FAO and Luiss University continue their partnership, reaffirming their commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders in the transformation of agrifood systems.

The theme selected for the 2026 UN Model Programme is “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow. Advancing Agrifood Systems Transformation through Innovation and Collaboration”.

Global food security remains one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Despite progress in previous decades, hunger and food insecurity persist at alarming levels. In 2024, between 638 and 720 million people continued to experience hunger, while approximately 2.3 billion people faced moderate or severe food insecurity.

In addition, around 2.6 billion people could not afford a healthy diet.

The 2025 FAO State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report showed that despite some regional improvements, the world remains off track to achieve SDG 2 (Zero Hunger and better nutrition) by 2030. These trends are driven by multiple and interconnected crises, including conflict, climate change, environmental degradation, and economic instability, but also reflect structural weaknesses in agrifood systems.

Food security is multidimensional, encompassing availability, access, utilization, and stability. Science, technology, and innovation play a critical role across all these dimensions. They enhance productivity and food availability, improve economic and physical access to food through markets and infrastructure, strengthen nutritional outcomes, and increase resilience to shocks such as climate extremes and supply disruptions.

In this context, the 2026 theme underscores the urgency of accelerating innovation and ensuring that its benefits are equitably shared between developing and developed countries to achieve sustainable and resilient food systems for present and future generations.

The 2026 UN Model Programme will start on 14 September with online and on campus training. The final simulation will take place in October.