The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General QU Dongyu has met with Nigeria’s Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar, to discuss reforms aimed at modernising and expanding Nigeria’s livestock industry. The talks focused on building stronger institutions, improving animal health and productivity and developing sustainable value chains resilient to climate change.
Both leaders reaffirmed the partnership between the FAO and the Nigerian government to strengthen cooperation that enhances food security, job creation and economic growth. The meeting comes just weeks before FAO inaugurates its new Food and Agriculture Museum and Network (FAO MuNe) in Rome on 16 October 2025, coinciding with World Food Day and the Organization’s 80th anniversary. Supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the museum will be officially opened by QU Dongyu alongside Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
Located near Rome’s historic Circus Maximus and Colosseum, FAO MuNe will serve as a global hub for cultural exchange, education and innovation in food and agriculture. It integrates the historic David Lubin Memorial Library, underscoring FAO’s enduring commitment to preserving agricultural knowledge and advancing global food systems. Spanning 1,300 square metres across 12 themed rooms, the museum presents eight decades of FAO’s work through archival materials, rare photographs and documents tracing the evolution of global food systems. At its heart is an international art collection of more than 60 works from about 40 FAO Member States, each reflecting the landscapes and traditions of its country.
Among the highlights are Michelangelo Pistoletto’s “Cultivating the Third Paradise,” which explores the balance between technology, society, and nature and Pablo Atchugarry’s “Peace with Nature,” a sculpture built around a century-old olive tree symbolising harmony between humanity and the environment. The museum also features the FoodS Lab, a fully equipped global kitchen for culinary demonstrations, workshops and expert discussions on food innovation and sustainability. Visitors will be able to interact with digital tools exploring future farming and nutrition, reinforcing FAO’s mission to inspire learning and participation across generations.
