„What’s on your Plate?“: Planetary Health and Healthy Diets

The event is part of the Dispute series and is organized in collaboration with Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations Organisations in Rome and ETH Zurich World Food System Center.

The conference will be held in English.

What we eat is never just a matter of personal preference. It is political, cultural, economic, and increasingly, technological. Shaped by tradition and local habits as much as by industrial production and scientific innovation, our diets are at the centre of growing global concern. On the one hand, food plays a crucial role in health, identity and daily life. On the other, food systems are major contributors to environmental degradation, while conflicts and climate change continue to exacerbate food insecurity in many parts of the world.

In this context, what does it mean to make the right food choices, choices that support both individual health and planetary well-being? Ultra-processed foods, while often practical and praised for their role in global food supply, are also associated with serious health concerns and ecological impact. How can we better understand their function within our diets, and how should they be classified and addressed in public discourse and policy? At the same time, access to safe, nutritious and affordable food remains deeply unequal. The reality of food injustice raises urgent concerns about how to ensure that everyone can exercise their right to nourishment, especially when the financial cost of sustainable eating is not distributed fairly. How can we become more aware of the true cost of food while recognising the disparities in consumer power across different contexts?

Istituto Svizzero, Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations Organisations in Rome, and the ETH Zurich World Food System Center join forces to host a one-day public forum addressing the future of food through the lens of science, diplomacy and innovation in the agro-food and agrotech sectors. Held in Rome, a key centre for international dialogue on agriculture and nutrition, the event gathers voices from research, institutions and industry to explore how food systems can evolve toward greater sustainability, equity and health. With contributions from Switzerland and Italy, the programme fosters exchange on the social and systemic changes needed to align individual and collective well-being with the long-term health of the planet.