The Ambassador of Italy to Canada, Alessandro Cattaneo, travelled to Toronto yesterday to take part in a number of initiatives organised by the Italy System in Canada in the context of the 2026 Made in Italy Day.
At the heart of the visit was the scientific symposium Italian Cuisine as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Health Benefits and Scientific Evidence, organised by the Embassy of Italy in Ottawa with the support of the Consulate General of Italy, ITA and the Italian Cultural Institute in Toronto, in collaboration with Barilla. Toronto Metropolitan University hosted the symposium, which was opened by Professor Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano, Provost and Vice President of TMU.
The conference, which brought together numerous researchers and representatives from Canadian institutional and business sectors, discussed the health benefits of Italian cuisine, highlighting the role of quality brands such as Barilla, an example of Made in Italy known worldwide.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Cattaneo underlined that, for Italy, cuisine is a fundamental element of its cultural heritage and identity. He also stressed that Italy’s holistic approach to nutrition contributes to disease prevention and the promotion of health. Within the framework of the strong bilateral relations with Canada, Ambassador Cattaneo reaffirmed the intention to foster an increasingly close dialogue integrating culture, tradition and health, further strengthening cooperation in the fields of food and nutrition.
Among the speakers was Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Trevor Jones, who highlighted the excellent partnership between Italy and Ontario in the agri-food sector, also supported by the presence of numerous prominent Italian companies leading significant production investments in the Province.
The symposium was preceded by a working lunch organised by ITA and Eataly, attended by numerous specialised journalists and representatives of major retail chains in Canada, with the aim of fostering synergies and encouraging a wider distribution of quality Italian wines and products in Ontario.
Ambassador Cattaneo also attended the Next Generation Awards, presented each year by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Ontario to young Italian-Canadians who have distinguished themselves in business and social fields. He congratulated this year’s winners, highlighting their contribution to strengthening Italy–Canada bilateral relations and their drive towards even more ambitious future goals.
