Maurizio Martina is Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), a role he has held since 2021 and in which he supports the Director-General on strategic matters. Born in Calcinate, near Bergamo, on 9 September 1978, he holds a Master’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Macerata. Before joining FAO, he served as a Member of the Italian Parliament and of the Agricultural Commission.

He was Delegate Responsible for Expo Milano 2015 and Undersecretary of State for Agriculture, and served as Minister for Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies in the governments of Matteo Renzi and Paolo Gentiloni from 2014 to 2018. During his ministerial tenure he was involved in the adoption of the EU Common Agricultural Policy and oversaw the hosting of the Universal Exposition in Milan in 2015. He also served as Acting Secretary of the Democratic Party (PD) in 2018.

Italy nominated him as candidate for Director-General of FAO in 2026. He has been instrumental in advancing FAO’s agenda on sustainable food systems, food security, and multilateral cooperation on climate and agriculture.