After the success of the Milan Expo [2] in 2015, mayor Giuseppe Sala [3] recently announced that the city of Milan would have a special guest visiting as part of the Global Food Innovation Summit [4] this May. Barack Obama [5] has rarely been seen after the end of his presidency in January but he will be making an appearance in Italy with the hopes of promoting innovation in the food industry.

More About Seeds&Chips

The Seeds&Chips [4] Global Food Innovation Summit is extremely proud to be one of the biggest events about food innovation worldwide. They are dedicated to showcasing national and international talent as well as introducing cutting-edge solutions from around the globe. “We bring food and technology together, from farm to fork and beyond” is their motto and it perfectly sums up what this progressive organization is all about. The four day long exhibition will be jam-packed with panel discussions which will allow startups, investors, visionaries, entrepreneurs, and policymakers alike to come together to positively change humans’ relationship with food.

Obama’s Schedule in Milan

Along with his White House chef and senior nutrition policy advisor Sam Kass [6], Obama will continue his going green commitment and hold a conference on the impact of technological innovation on climate change and food on May 9th. The mayor will also be giving the keys of the city to the former US President in a momentous ceremony. Sala has commented that, “it will probably be his first public outing since being president, and the fact that he has chosen Milan seems extraordinary to me," describing the visit as "an honor.”

The Obama’s have a great rapport with the northern Italian city, as he attended the Expo during his presidency and former First Lady Michelle [7] promoted her “Let’s Move!” [8] initiative there which encouraged children to maintain a healthy diet while getting active.

This special meeting will allow the United States and Italy to network, explore new solutions, share ideas, and build together in order to create a world where we are more conscious of what we put into our bodies and of the effects the food industry has on the environment.