International Pasta Organisation (IPO) President Carl Zuanelli and Turkish Pasta Manufacturers Association (TMSD) President Aykut Göymen have delivered strong messages on the future of the industry as the world marks World Pasta Day on October 25. With global pasta production reaching 17.3 million tonnes, Türkiye stands among the industry’s leading players, producing more than 2.2 million tonnes and exporting to over 165 countries. Industry leaders stress that the future of pasta will be shaped not only by production and consumption volumes, but also by accessibility, sustainability, food security, evolving consumer habits and a culture of sharing.

Carl Zuanelli

Celebrated every year on October 25, World Pasta Day once again brings global attention to the role of one of the world’s most widely consumed staple foods. Its long shelf life, affordability, convenience, nutritional value and ability to adapt to different culinary cultures have transformed pasta from a traditional food into a truly global food category.

Messages delivered for World Pasta Day by the International Pasta Organisation (IPO), the umbrella organisation representing the global pasta industry, and the Turkish Pasta Manufacturers Association (TMSD), representing Türkiye’s pasta industry, highlight both the scale the sector has reached and the transformation now shaping its future.

While IPO President Carl Zuanelli emphasises pasta’s unique ability to bring different cultures and generations together around the same table, TMSD President Aykut Göymen points to Türkiye’s growing strength in global pasta production and exports. Their messages converge around a common theme: the future of pasta will increasingly be shaped by sustainability, accessibility, social responsibility and changing consumer expectations, alongside production growth.

Global production reaches 17.3 million tonnes

According to IPO data, global pasta production reached approximately 17.3 million tonnes in 2025. With worldwide output almost doubling over the past 15 years, the figures underline pasta’s expanding role in the global food market.

The geographical footprint of production is also widening. Today, 40 countries produce more than 20,000 tonnes of pasta annually, while annual per capita consumption has reached at least one kilogram in 48 countries.

Italy continues to lead global production with more than 4.1 million tonnes a year. Türkiye follows as the world’s second-largest pasta producer, reinforcing its position as one of the key centres of the international pasta industry.

According to TMSD President Aykut Göymen, Türkiye’s annual pasta production has surpassed 2.2 million tonnes. Modern manufacturing infrastructure, high-quality durum wheat and strong export capabilities form the backbone of the Turkish pasta industry’s competitiveness in international markets.

Today, Türkiye exports pasta to more than 165 countries, generating added value for the national economy while bringing Turkish pasta to consumers across a remarkably broad geographical area.

“As the Turkish pasta industry, with our modern facilities, high-quality durum wheat and competitive strength, we export to more than 165 countries, creating added value for our economy while enriching tables around the world,” Göymen said.

Zuanelli: “Pasta’s strength lies in its ability to reinvent itself”

For IPO President Carl Zuanelli, production and consumption figures tell only part of the story behind pasta’s global success. One of pasta’s greatest strengths is its ability to retain a strong and recognisable identity while adapting to different culinary cultures and changing consumption habits.

Zuanelli points to pasta’s remarkable capacity to continuously reinvent itself through countless recipes and traditions while bringing generations and cultures together around the same table. This adaptability has helped pasta evolve from a product traditionally associated with Mediterranean and European cuisine into a genuinely global food category.

Aykut Göymen

According to the IPO President, the scale the industry has reached also brings greater responsibility for producers. Alongside preserving pasta’s quality and traditional characteristics, sustainable production, responsible use of resources and the continued development of the category’s future potential are becoming increasingly important priorities.

Türkiye strengthens its position in the global pasta industry

Türkiye’s importance to the global pasta industry extends beyond production and exports. The country is also one of the world’s significant pasta consumption markets.

According to IPO data, Italy ranks first in annual per capita consumption at 23.3 kilograms, followed by Tunisia at 18.8 kilograms, Hungary at 17.1 kilograms and Germany at 16.8 kilograms. Türkiye, meanwhile, records annual per capita pasta consumption of 12.5 kilograms.

Göymen stresses that Türkiye’s strong global position is the result of a broad value chain extending from the field to the factory and from packaging to logistics. Durum wheat farmers, pasta factory employees, packaging companies, exporters and distribution networks all contribute to the country’s competitiveness in international markets.

Highlighting the important role played by the Turkish pasta industry in the origins of World Pasta Day, Göymen said: “October 25 World Pasta Day is a gift from Turkish pasta manufacturers to the world.”

A new generation is rediscovering pasta

Transformation in the global pasta industry is not limited to production lines. Changes in how consumers cook, socialise and engage with digital content are also giving pasta a new identity.

The growing interest of Gen Z and Millennials in home cooking and turning meal preparation into a social experience is accelerating the reinterpretation of pasta through new recipes, ingredients and culinary cultures.

According to Tastewise data, online conversations about pasta have increased by 11.45% over the past year. Alongside classics such as mac & cheese, spaghetti and lasagna, fusion recipes combining different culinary traditions are attracting growing interest.

Göymen also points to a changing relationship between younger consumers and pasta. Rather than simply being an affordable and quick meal, pasta is increasingly becoming a platform for consumers to experiment with recipes, express their individual tastes and share the experience with friends.

“Turkish people love sharing and gathering around crowded tables. Pasta is precisely the kind of food that fits this culture,” Göymen said, noting that the combination of traditional Turkish flavours with sauces and recipes inspired by world cuisines is bringing new dynamism to pasta consumption.

Pasta’s role in food security is growing

One of the strongest common themes in the World Pasta Day messages from IPO and TMSD is global food security.

At a time when the world is simultaneously confronting food insecurity and undernutrition on the one hand, and nutritional imbalances and obesity on the other, pasta offers important advantages through its affordability, long shelf life and adaptability to different dietary cultures.

As climate change, fluctuations in agricultural production, economic uncertainty and supply chain disruptions make access to staple foods increasingly important, the pasta industry is also moving towards more sustainable production models.

Göymen notes that producers in Türkiye are placing greater emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainable agricultural practices, while stressing that sustainability should not be viewed solely through the environmental performance of manufacturing facilities.

Industry pledges one billion servings of pasta

One of the most powerful messages of World Pasta Day comes from the industry’s collective commitment to social responsibility.

IPO and its members have pledged to donate a total of one billion servings of pasta over ten years through organisations and associations around the world, contributing to the fight against global food insecurity.

In less than two years since the initiative began, approximately 150 million servings of pasta have already been distributed worldwide, demonstrating the scale of the industry’s efforts towards achieving this target.

Göymen said the Turkish pasta industry is also a strong part of this culture of solidarity.

“Whenever there is a need, whether in our country or elsewhere in the world, we consider sharing the bread and pasta on our table not merely a responsibility, but an essential duty,” he said.

Global pasta industry to meet in Parma

World Pasta Day 2026 activities will extend beyond October 25. Events will continue through October 30, with one of the key international gatherings taking place in Parma, Italy, on October 27-28.

Hosted by IPO, the international meeting is expected to bring together more than 200 pasta manufacturers, supply chain representatives, industry associations, corporate representatives, chefs, food experts and scientists. Discussions will focus on health, sustainability, innovation and pasta’s role in the food systems of the future.

The picture emerging from World Pasta Day 2026 shows that the global pasta industry can no longer be assessed solely through production tonnage and export figures. On one side stands global production of 17.3 million tonnes and an expanding geographical footprint; on the other are sustainability, food security, social responsibility and the rapidly changing expectations of a new generation of consumers.

The global perspective offered by IPO and the message from Türkiye’s pasta industry through TMSD ultimately converge on the same point: pasta remains a universal food capable of bringing different cultures together around the same table, adapting to changing consumer expectations and playing an increasingly important role in global food accessibility.

Göymen’s World Pasta Day message captures this shared vision:

“Pasta is a symbol of simplicity, abundance and sharing. It brings to our tables not just a plate of food, but conversation, joy and togetherness. From our farmers in the fields to our workers in the factories, and from packaging to distribution, we extend our gratitude to all industry professionals, stakeholders and colleagues who have contributed to this great success, as well as to all consumers who make room for us at their tables. May your tables always be filled with flavour and joy. Happy World Pasta Day.”