The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will open its new Food and Agriculture Museum & Network (FAO MuNe) on 16 October 2025, on the occasion of World Food Day and the Organization's 80th anniversary.
Housed at FAO and supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, FAO MuNe is a dedicated space for cultural exchange and innovation which also incorporates the historic David Lubin Memorial Library. Centrally positioned near Rome's Circus Maximus and the Colosseum, the museum highlights FAO's 80 years of work while inviting audiences to explore the challenges and opportunities of agrifood systems today and in the future.
The inauguration will be led by FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella.
Spanning 1,300 m² and 12 rooms, FAO MuNe combines history, knowledge, art, and science to tell the story of food and agriculture as shared human heritage. Its exhibitions will bring together archival treasures, historic documents, and rare photographs tracing FAO's eight decades of work. Visitors will also take part in immersive installations designed to engage audiences in understanding how food connects people, cultures, and the planet.
Through the powerful unifying vector of art and culture, FAO MuNe invites everyone to explore, learn and act - an experience that connects knowledge and ideas with emotion and inspiration
At the heart of the Museum is an art collection of more than 60 pieces donated by around 40 FAO Members, each sharing a story of its land and people. Among these donations are unique life size artists' sculptures such Michelangelo Pistoletto's Cultivating the Third Paradise, which bridges nature, society, and technology in search of harmony, and Pablo Atchugarry's Peace with Nature, a century-old olive tree reborn as a symbol of humanity's reconciliation with the environment.
Other works on display have traveled from across various regions of the world to find their new home at the FAOMuNe. Together, these contributions form a vibrant dialogue among nations through art and objects, crossing linguistic and geographic spaces
Cultural exhibits will highlight diverse food traditions from across the world, while innovative digital tools will invite guests to imagine the future of farming, food, and nutrition. In this living space, art, science, and culture converge, turning the Museum into a meeting point where knowledge becomes inspiration and leads to action.
Why MuNe matters
Food is more than sustenance - it represents culture, identity, and diplomacy. FAO MuNe offers a space for learning, dialogue, and collaboration, linking agricultural heritage with contemporary innovation.
Its FoodS Lab - the 'kitchen of the world' - is fully equipped and will host workshops, cooking demos, interactive shows, and expert talks that explore global food traditions, sustainability, and innovative solutions. By connecting cultural institutions, universities, and partners worldwide, the museum fosters awareness and exchange on global food security and cooperation.
As a global network, FAO MuNe connects institutions, partners, and communities, creating a global hub for collaboration and dialogue that links local experiences with global knowledge
Guided by FAO's Four Betters - Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life - FAO MuNe reflects the Organization's Strategic Framework and its alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
FAO MuNe will start welcoming visitors from Monday through Saturday on 20 October 2025. Reservations can be made directly on its website or by contacting [email protected]. The address is Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy.
