The Forum is an operative programme of  PLEXUS INTERNATIONAL FORUM APS ETS, Sorano, GR, 58010 Meramma Toscana,

In 2003, the initiative of the Forum on Mediterranean Food Cultures was born as the Euro-Mediterranean Network on Food Cultures, within the framework of the Second Euro-Mediterranean Forum "Dialogues between Civilizations of the Mediterranean on Food Security. The Role of Food Culture for Sustainable Rural Development," held in Corigliano Calabro (Cosenza). It was organized by the Universitas Italica Foundation on the occasion of the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic, and the Patronage of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Agricultural and Forestry Policies, the European Commission Representation in Italy, and the Presidency of the Calabria Regional Council.

In 2005, on the occasion of the 2005 Year of the Mediterranean, under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the European Commission Representation in Italy, the Euro-Mediterranean Network on Food Cultures organized, together with the Institute of Food Science of Sapienza University of Rome, the Third EuroMed Forum "Dialogues between Civilizations and Peoples of the Mediterranean: Food Cultures." This was held at the Rectorate of Sapienza University of Rome with the collaboration of CIHEAM Bari and the International Commission on the Anthropology of Food. At the conclusion, the "Rome Appeal for a Common Action on Food in the Mediterranean" was issued.

As a result, in 2006, the International Interdepartmental Center for Studies on Food Cultures (CIISCAM) was established by Sapienza University of Rome, the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the University of Parma, Tuscia University, and the University of the Mediterranean (Cosenza), with its administrative headquarters at Sapienza University of Rome.

In 2009, the Euro-Mediterranean Network on Food Cultures became the current Forum on Mediterranean Food Cultures. It participated in the organization of the international conference "The Mediterranean Diet Today: A Model of Sustainable Diet," organized by the International Interuniversity Center on Food Cultures (CIISCAM) in Parma with the collaboration of the Institute of Food Science of Sapienza University of Rome, the National Institute of Nutrition (INRAN), FAO, CIHEAM Bari, and Bioversity International.

As a result of the Third CIISCAM Conference, the International Scientific Symposium “Sustainable diets and biodiversity: United against hunger” was organized in 2010 by FAO and Bioversity International. At the conclusion, a consensus was reached on the definition of “sustainable diets.” Within the Symposium program, an entire session was devoted to the Mediterranean diet as an example of a sustainable diet, closing with a proposal for drafting a code of conduct for sustainable diets.

In 2010, the Forum participated in the organization, with FAO, CIISCAM, INRAN, ENEA, and COOP, of the talk show “BIODIVERSITY? Sustainable Food for All: The Mediterranean Diet an example of Sustainable Diet,” organized at the Parco della Musica in Rome, as part of Biodiversity Week.

In 2011, during the FAO/CIHEAM International Workshop “Guidelines for the Sustainability of the Mediterranean Diet,” at CIHEAM-Bari, a joint case study was started to assess the sustainability of the Mediterranean diet in the Mediterranean region, considering its multi-dimensions and impacts on health and nutrition, environment (including biodiversity), economy, and socio–cultural factors.

In 2011, the Forum participated in the development of the revision of the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid together with many other international institutions, published in Public Health Nutrition ("Mediterranean diet pyramid today. Science and cultural updates." Public Health Nutrition, 14(12A), 2274-2284).

2014, Sandro Dernini, president of Forum create with Lluis Serra Majerm-former President of the Mediterranean Diet Foundationin Barcelona, the International Foundation of the Mediterranean Diet-IFMeD legally based in London.

In May 2015, the Forum participated in organizing, with CNR, ENEA, CIHEAM Bari, and CRA (formerly INRAN), the International Conference “Does the Mediterranean Diet still exist? Nutrition-Health-Quality-Sustainability-Innovation-Evolution,” at the Milan EXPO. As a result, the MEDDIET EXPO 2015 Call - Time to Act Now was issued by CIHEAM and endorsed by over 80 national and international institutions.

In July 2015, again within the EXPO framework, considering that young generations constitute the majority of the population in Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries, CIHEAM, the Forum, and IFMeD, in collaboration with ENEA, presented the project for the Med Diet 4.0 pyramid installation in a joint meeting. Conceived as a traveling education and communication campaign project aimed at young people, it sought to promote the multiple sustainable benefits of the Mediterranean Diet for its revitalization as a contemporary, active, diversified, sustainable, and healthy lifestyle, in balance with the person and nature. In August 2015, as part of the Estate Romana (Roman Summer) festival, the Med Diet 4.0 installation was built at the Gazometro in Rome inside a geodesic dome representing the cosmos.

In 2016, the Forum collaborated on the organization in Milan of the First World Conference on the Mediterranean Diet "Revitalizing the Mediterranean Diet: From a Healthy Dietary Pattern to a Healthy Mediterranean Sustainable Lifestyle," organized by the International Foundation of Mediterranean Diet (IFMeD), in collaboration with CIHEAM Bari, the Federation of European Nutrition Societies (FENS), and the technical collaboration of FAO. At the conclusion, the “Call for Action on the Revitalization of the Mediterranean Diet” was issued, endorsed by 37 scientific societies, research institutes, and national and international organizations.

In 2019, the Forum organized with CIHEAM Bari the Second World Conference on the Revitalization of the Mediterranean Diet "Strategies towards more Sustainable Food Systems in the Mediterranean. The Mediterranean Diet as a Lever to Bridge Consumption and Production in a Sustainable and Healthy Way," as a One Planet Sustainable Food Systems Programme affiliated project. It was held under the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agricultural, Food, Forestry and Tourism Policies, the Sicilian Region, the UfM (Union for the Mediterranean), and CIHEAM, in collaboration with CNR, CREA, ENEA, and the technical collaboration of FAO.

As a result of the Second Conference, CIHEAM, FAO, and UfM, in September [2019/2020], at a meeting at FAO, launched the joint development of the SFS-MED Platform, as a multi-stakeholder initiative for sustainable food systems in the Mediterranean. A Coordination Desk was established, consisting of Focal Points from each institution and voluntarily coordinated by the President of the Forum.

In 2022, the Forum collaborated on the organization of the Third World Conference on the Revitalization of the Mediterranean Diet "Change of Course towards more Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems in Mediterranean Countries. The Mediterranean Diet as a Strategic Resource to Accelerate the 2030 Agenda in the Region," organized by CIHEAM Bari on the occasion of CIHEAM's 60th Anniversary. It was held under the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, the Ministry of Ecological Transition, the Ministry of Health, the Puglia Region, and the Municipality of Bari, with the technical collaboration of FAO and the collaboration of the PRIMA Foundation, FENS, IFMeD, CREA, CNR, ENEA, and LINK2007 Cooperazione in Rete. As a side event of the Conference, the Forum, with Plexus International Forum Onlus, organized “Collective Catering as a Cultural Tool to Promote the Mediterranean Diet.”

In 2023, as a result of the Third Conference, the Med Diet Task Force was established between FENS, IUNS, and CIHEAM Bari with the aim of tracing the path for creating, evaluating, and implementing a common framework for a new Mediterranean Dietary Pattern for the 21st Century, by: i) (re-)defining the Mediterranean Diet appropriate for the 21st century; ii) reaching consensus on the elements required to measure adherence to the MedDiet, and, if possible, developing a single index; iii) drafting a voluntary code of conduct with recommendations for different sectors (primary producers, food industry, health, environment, food service, and consumers, etc.) to improve adherence to sustainable Mediterranean Diets, using a rights-based approach, grounded in tradition, respectful of biodiversity and ecosystems, and consistent with Sustainable Development Goals.

Also following the Third Conference, in 2023 the Forum organized with CIHEAM Bari, the Research Unit in Food Science and Human Nutrition of Sapienza University of Rome, RistoCloud, and R.C Food Consulting, the conference “Collective Catering as a Cultural Tool to Promote the Mediterranean Diet,” held at Palazzo Ferrajoli in Rome.

Subsequently, a framework agreement was drawn up between CIHEAM Bari and Plexus International Forum Onlus (to which the Forum on Mediterranean Food Cultures legally and administratively refers). The objectives were:

1. To foster the development and implementation of common programs aimed at a three-year communication campaign on the enhancement of Italian collective catering aimed at the revitalization of the Mediterranean diet, through agreed activities;
2. To promote the Mediterranean Diet through activities aimed at valorizing the cultural dimension of food through Italian catering, aimed at better knowledge of territorial products;
3. To promote a new perception of the Mediterranean diet through the MED DIET 4.0 approach, which simultaneously valorizes the multiple sustainable benefits of the Mediterranean diet;
4. To activate a communication campaign, starting from Italy, to revitalize the Mediterranean diet as a contemporary, healthy, and sustainable lifestyle, in harmony with nature.

MED DIET 4.0 INSTALLATION, ROME 2015

In August 2025, the Forum participated in Paris at the IUNS-ICN - 23rd International Congress of Nutrition and became member of the new IUNS Task Force on Territorial Diets.