Gastronomic CineSustainability: A French approach

In collaboration with the Institut Français – Centre Saint-Louis, the World Food Forum (WFF)’s Global Youth Action Initiative (Youth Initiative) hosted a  full-day event in Rome on 22 May 2025, celebrating the power of film and hands-on learning to advance sustainable agrifood systems. Organized by the WFF Youth Culture and Youth Education Programmes, the event brought together young people through an engaging mix of film, dialogue and learning.

The day centered around the screening of Hortus, awarded Best Documentary at the 2023 WFF Youth Film Festival. Directed by Maël Henaff, the film explores the partnership between Chef Laurent Petit and gardener Lionel Perron, showing how their use of seasonal, garden-grown ingredients redefines gastronomy and sustainability.

Following the screening, over 90 Italian school students took part in an interactive workshop led by the WFF Youth Education Programme. Using the documentary as a springboard for discussion, the session combined theory and practice through a simulated FAO Council meeting. Students examined agricultural value chains, debated food policies and reflected on their roles as conscious consumers and future leaders in shaping sustainable agrifood systems.

The evening session brought together a diverse and intergenerational audience, including François Gautier, Deputy Permanent Representative from the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations in Rome, Kazuki Kitaoka, Director of the Office of Youth and Women at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). They were joined by students, educators, sustainability advocates and FAO colleagues. Henaff joined virtually, offering insights into the film’s creative process and participating in a Q&A session. The event underscored the power of cultural media like film serving as universal and accessible languages for conveying complex information on agrifood systems topics.

A multilingual panel discussion followed, featuring voices from FAO and collaborative organizations. Ethnobotanist Sofia Cavalleri, co-founder of Ristolab and alumna of the WFF Young Scientists Group, discussed gardens as living classrooms that preserve biodiversity and traditional knowledge. She shared how Ristolab blends scientific research with culinary innovation rooted in Mediterranean medicinal traditions and wild food.

Giulia Palestini, from FAO’s Office of Innovation, highlighted the power of storytelling in motivating behavioral change and emphasized the role of multimedia and communications in promoting agrifood systems innovation. Zofia Krystyna Mroczek, an Agricultural extension and advisory services specialist at FAO, underlined the importance of scenario-based planning and foresight in preparing for the future of agrifood systems, noting the need to equip young people through infrastructure, training and mentorship.

Sophie Treinen, from the Family Farming, Parliamentary Networks and Communication for Development Unit at FAO, contributed to the panel with a hands-on demonstration. She brought foraged plants and used them to highlight the theme of the film, spotlighting FAO's work on sustainable agrifood systems. Her intervention also referenced an FAO publication on foraged plants, linking local biodiversity and traditional knowledge to broader discussions on sustainability.

In the evening, Sara Porro, founder of Ferment’Action, presented her cultural movement to use fermentation as a tool for ecological and social change. The initiative promotes sustainability through education, collaboration and waste reduction.

The day concluded with an aperitif organized by Ferment’Action, where participants exchanged ideas over food. With strong youth engagement, the event bridged generations and disciplines, highlighting that the path to a better food future starts with education, storytelling and community.