On October 25, we celebrate World Pasta Day! Philadelphia has been chosen as the global pasta capital, and the International Pasta Organisation is pledging to donate 1 billion plates of pasta over the next 10 years. 

Philadelphia has been chosen as the global pasta capital for the World Pasta Day 2024. The International Pasta Organisation joins the 100 Billion Meals Challenge, pledging to donate one billion plates of pasta to the world’s poorest people. Zuanelli, IPO president: “Pasta, a humble dish that for its satiating power can be a healthy and natural choice accessible to everybody. 17 million tonnes of pasta produced in 2023 in 52 countries.”

Donating one billion plates of pasta in 10 years to feed an increasingly hungry planet: this is the challenge that IPO – International Pasta Organisation – pasta makers are announcing on the occasion of the 26th edition of the World Pasta Day, set for October 25, to celebrate the food symbol of the Mediterranean diet.

An ambitious challenge that pasta makers are well-prepared to win. According to data processed by IPO, which promotes the initiative, in 25 years pasta production has increased by almost 85%, from 9.1 to almost 17 million tonnes. Today, 40 countries produce over 20,000 tonnes annually, and 52 countries (up from 30) consume at least 1 kg per capita each year.

The announcement was made at the World Pasta Congress in Philadelphia, the “pasta capital” for this year’s World Pasta Day celebration. The event gathered 250 delegates, including pasta makers, institutional representatives, scientists, journalists, and food influencers.

IPO’S PARTICIPATION IN THE ‘100 BILLION MEALS CHALLENGE’ PROJECT

Today, pasta has been confronted with a global food emergency. According to the UN report ‘The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024’, approximately 733 million people experienced hunger in 2023, equating to one in eleven people worldwide and one in five in Africa.

A wake-up call for achieving the goal of ending hunger and all forms of malnutrition by 2030, an international political priority established by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. And the world of pasta is bidding to be part of the solution.

This is why pasta makers worldwide have committed to the global charity initiative “100 Billion Meals Challenge”. Through this initiative, IPO members will donate sufficient products and financial resources over the next 10 years to provide one billion pasta dishes to organizations and associations around the globe.

‘World Pasta Day,’ says Carl Zuanelli, President of the International Pasta Organization, “Once again allows us to tell how this extraordinary food can be ideal for feeding the world healthily and sustainably. Its spread shows how it is now at home in all cultures, it is a humble dish that for its satiating power can be a healthy, natural choice, accessible to all social categories. What’s more, it is a product with a low environmental impact, an aspect that is not secondary in an increasingly crowded planet where those who produce food must pose the ethical problem of doing so without wasting resources.”

HERE ARE 5 REASONS WHY PASTA IS THE PERFECT TOOL TO FIGHT HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION

GOOD – Semolina, water and pasta maker’s passion gives life to one of the best foods from an organoleptic point of view. Its versatility allows it to complement a wide range of ingredients and dishes from various cultures, regions, and traditions, from the simplest to the most sophisticated ones.

HEALTHY AND NUTRITIOUS – Pasta is energinsing yet light, a friend of the heart and “good mood”. As a key ingredient in healthy culinary traditions around the globe, it serves as a high-quality carbohydrate with a low glycaemic index. This characteristic allows it to be digested more slowly than other carbohydrates, providing a consistent and prolonged source of energy. Loved by nutritionists, it is adaptable and suitable for a variety of dietary preferences and lifestyles.

ACCESSIBLE – The average cost of a plate of pasta is very reasonable. For 45 Euro cents you can prepare a portion of spaghetti with tomato sauce.

USEFUL – In just 15 minutes, you can have a delicious and satisfying dish ready to serve. Pasta pairs wonderfully with a variety of ingredients and sauces, making it incredibly versatile. It is lightweight and compact, allowing for easy transport and storage. It withstands both heat and cold and can be kept in the pantry for months without losing its quality.

SUSTAINABLE – As a champion of recovery cooking, pasta transforms leftovers into delicious sauces, contributing to sustainable practices. In recent years, its environmental production costs have also declined. The ecological footprint of an 80-gram serving of pasta is minimal, requiring just 1 m² of land and producing only 150g of CO2 equivalent. Moreover, its packaging is designed for complete recovery of materials, further enhancing its sustainability.

ITALY LEADS IN PRODUCTION FOLLOWED BY USA, TURKEY AND EGYPT

2023 has confirmed that pasta is a food loved all over the world. An ideal solution for nourishing that part of the population caught between malnutrition and obesity in a healthy, delicious, and sustainable way.

Italy is the leader for production (with 3.9 million tonnes), ahead of the USA, Turkey and Egypt. In terms of consumption, the 5 countries in the world where most pasta is eaten are Italy (23.3 kg per capita), Tunisia (17 kg), Venezuela (13.6 kg) and Greece (12.2 kg) and Peru (9.9 kg). Next come the countries where per capita consumption ranges between 7 and 9 kg: Chile (9.6 kg), Germany (9.3 kg), the USA (8.8 kg), France (8.6 kg) followed by Iran (8.5 kg).