Your Excellencies, Mr. Vytenis Andriukaitis, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Mr. Phil Hogan, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr.Carlos Moedas, European Union Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, Mr. Franz Fischler, Chairman of the Expo 2015 European Union Scientific  Steering Committee, Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to convey my best wishes as you focus on Strengthening Global Food and Nutrition Security through Research and Innovation.

Last month, world leaders adopted 17 inspiring Sustainable Development Goals, which recognize the complex and interconnected root causes of poverty and hunger.  This agenda will now guide our work towards lives of dignity for all.

Goal 2 commits the world to end hunger and malnutrition everywhere, in every form, by the year 2030.

Research is critical to building the resilient, inclusive and sustainable food systems that we will need to feed nine billion people while protecting our planet.

I urge you in particular to consider the role of smallholder farmers, women farmers and rural communities as a whole.

We must also foster a culture of innovation that inspires young people to find solutions to challenges such as food loss and waste.

In 2012, I issued my Zero Hunger Challenge to end hunger within a generation.

Member States have now made the elimination of hunger integral to the 2030 Agenda.

On the eve of World Food Day -- as you attend Expo Milan dedicated to food and nutrition security -- let us pledge to work together to make this vision a reality.

Thank you.