The international workshop "Facts over Myths – Food Policy for Old and New Challenges," held on April 20–21, 2026, in Bologna, brought together leading scholars and policy experts to examine how food policy can respond to a rapidly shifting global landscape. Jointly organized by Johns Hopkins University SAIS Europe and the University of Bologna, the event marked the launch of a new international initiative dedicated to advancing evidence-based policymaking in food systems.

At a time of geopolitical instability, trade disruptions, and rising food insecurity, the workshop underscored the urgency of aligning scientific research with public decision-making. The initiative—led by Jessica Fanzo (Johns Hopkins) and Mario Mazzocchi (University of Bologna)—brings together experts from leading universities and international organizations, including the FAO and World Food Programme, with the aim of fostering sustained collaboration and policy-relevant research.

The opening session at SAIS Europe highlighted the strong institutional partnership underpinning the initiative. Institutional greetings were delivered by Renaud Dehousse, Rector of SAIS Europe and Vice Dean of Johns Hopkins SAIS, and Giovanni Molari, Rector of the University of Bologna. This was followed by a welcome from Andrea Segrè, Special Counsellor to the Mayor of Bologna for Food Policy and Chair of the Casa Artusi Foundation, who emphasized Bologna's role as a leading city in food policy innovation.

Keynote addresses and a high-level roundtable explored how evolving global dynamics—from conflicts to changing consumption patterns—are reshaping food systems, with particular consequences for vulnerable populations. Discussions highlighted the need to move beyond outdated frameworks and to integrate economic, behavioral, and sustainability perspectives into policy design.

A closed working session at the University of Bologna's Rectorate on April 21 brought together approximately thirty researchers from twenty institutions for in-depth discussions on food security, nutrition, trade disruptions, and climate-related challenges.

Overall, the workshop established a foundation for a long-term international collaboration aimed at ensuring that rigorous, interdisciplinary research informs food policy in an increasingly complex and uncertain world—while reinforcing Bologna's role as a hub for global policy dialogue.

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Event Materials

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Jointly organized by the Johns Hopkins University SAIS Europe and the University of Bologna
hosted by Professor Jessica Fanzo

INSTITUTIONAL GREETINGS
WELCOME: BOLOGNA AS A CITY OF FOOD POLICY
WORKSHOP INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
KEYNOTE SESSIONS
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION

TO ATTEND THE EVENT PLEASE REGISTER BELOW

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