Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Affairs to showcase Spanish farming and food at Expo Milano 2015 as examples of innovation and sustainability

Involvement by this ministerial department at the Milan Expo is aimed at supporting the policies put in place to foster internationalisation in the Spanish agri-food sector and boosting awareness on the quality and variety of Spanish products via new promotion strategies, such as this universal exposition.

The activities are also aimed at encouraging debate on the agri-food sector and food, as well as promoting Spanish products.

Challenges on best practices

Very closely related to this topic, the first of these activities will comprise a presentation of the results from the "Challenges on Best Practices in Agriculture and Food" at an event on 4 July presided over by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Environmental Affairs, Isabel García Tejerina.

A total of 126 initiatives on best practices in agriculture and food were submitted in response to a call made in February by the ministerial department and the Spain Pavilion based around three challenges: healthy food for people and the planet; reducing food waste; and agri-food innovation as a driving force towards feeding the planet.

Highly varied proposals were submitted on these issues, which are being developed in Spain. They were submitted by all the regional governments and a wide range of other stakeholders: institutions, associations, companies and NGOs. These proposals were assessed by a committee of experts made up by representatives from the sectors, the public administration services and NGOs, which selected the top 30 for inclusion in the Spain Pavilion at the Milan Expo.

Of the 30 chosen, 11 initiatives relate to healthy food for people and the planet, eight to the challenge of reducing food waste and 11 to agri-food innovation. Information on all the initiatives can be found on the Spain Pavilion website and via the link on the website of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Affairs at http://www.pabellonespana2015.com/desafios.

Meetings at the Spain Pavilion

Besides the Challenges Project, the ministerial department has scheduled a series of 'Meetings at the Spain Pavilion'. These will be themed events on topics of general interest that will take place over the course of the Expo.

The chosen topics cover a range of varied issues. The first, on 11 June, will relate to 'The Value of Food' and will aim to both provide information about the importance of the agri-food value chain and the essential nature of avoiding food waste to ensure sustainability in the sector.

Also in June, there will be a chance to debate the importance of 'Aquaculture as the Larder of the Seas' while, in July, the meeting entitled 'Bees, those Diminutive Friends of the Planet' will include an informative lecture on the world of bees and their environmental importance, as well as a workshop for children at which they will be able to discover the secrets to be found inside a beehive and the important work carried out by bees in the environment.

The majority of these events are scheduled to take place after summer. The September meeting will focus on 'Marine Reserves'. Finally, the last three meetings will take place in October: to debate the importance of traceability in the agri-food sector at 'The Food Journey, from the Farm to our Tables'; to embark on a 'Journey through the Flavours and Landscapes of Spain'; and to explore wine and gastronomy at the last meeting, entitled 'Wine and Tapas around Spain'.

Information about these meetings, as well as the other activities scheduled by the Spanish agri-food sector, can be found on the Spain Pavilion website at http://www.pabellonespana2015.com and via the ministry's own website at www.magrama.gob.es/es/alimentacion/temas/promocion-alimentaria/default9.aspx.

Activities for children

In addition, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Affairs has scheduled a series of education and entertainment activities for children during the course of the Expo at workshops focusing on the 'Challenges' topic (sustainable and healthy food). The goal is for children - consumers of the future - to be made aware of the food challenges facing us in the future, while also coming into contact with the agri-food products made in Spain.

Expo Milano 2015

The Expo Milano 2015 universal exposition - which opens on Monday - is entitled 'Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life' and is the first time that such an event has focused on food.

Over the next six months, Milan will become a global showcase for the agri-food sectors in various countries. Expo Milano 2015 hopes to become the first universal exposition to be remembered not only for its architecture and activities but also for its contribution to the debate and education on nutrition, food and resources at a global level.

150 countries and international bodies are taking part and over 20 million people are expected to visit the event. They will be able to enjoy a unique leisure and education experience on a site covering one million square metres.

Spain Pavilion

Spain is one of the countries taking part with its own pavilion and is committed to a strong presence at the Milan Expo through numerous activities that will inform visitors from around the world about the key factors leading to the success of the Spanish agri-food sector and its commitment to sustainability, as well as the fair distribution of natural resources.

Innovation and tradition come together in 'The Language of Flavour' - the slogan for the Spain Pavilion, which is based on three main pillars: a successful food production chain; the quality and diversity of Spanish diet and gastronomy; and sustainable farming and fishing as a tool for preserving the landscape, heritage and development of alternative tourism models.

The pavilion will present Spain's strengths and unique qualities to the world, based on the main topics of Expo Milano 2015, with a creative and surprising range of activities focused on the senses, which the ministerial department has actively helped to prepare.