Michelle Obama promotes global food security at Expo Milano 2015

Michelle Obama visited the Expo Milano 2015 on Thursday to promote global food security and sustainable agriculture.

Expo Milano 2015 is the Universal Exhibition that runs from May 1 until October 31 where more than 140 participating countries will showcase technology and services that enable sustainable consumption and production.

Obama, the United States' first lady, met with Diana Bracco, President of Expo 2015 and Commissioner General of Section of the Italian Pavilion, Maurizio Martina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food and Giuseppe Sala, Commissioner of the Government of Italy for Expo Milano 2015, as well as with Emma Bonino and Marta Dassù, respectively Honorary President and Executive Chairman of WE-Women for Expo.

The first lady spoke in the Nursery School area, which is dedicated to nutritional education, and addressed the United States’ ""Let’s Move" programme.

Over 20 million visitors are expected to visit the 1.1 million square meters exhibition area over the 6-months of the event.

The theme of Expo Milano 2015 is “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life” runs through all the events within and outside the official Exhibition Site.

Approximately 870 million people were undernourished in the period 2010-2012 with around 2.8 million deaths being caused by diseases related to obesity or to being overweight in the same period.

An estimated 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year and the Expo features technologies that aim to improve the balance between the availability and consumption of resources.

Members of the European Parliament representing the agriculture, energy and international trade committees are also visited the Expo on Thursday and Friday to promote efforts to improve global food security, fight food waste and encourage healthy lifestyles.

In total 35 MEPS will be visited including Czesław Adam Siekierski, chair of the agriculture committee; Bernd Lange, chair of the international trade committee, and Patrizia Toia, vice-chair of the industry and energy committee. 

EP vice president Antonio Tajani is also part of the delegation.