Today, March 3rd, the Arctic Circle Forum in Rome has officially begun 🇮🇹❄️

This important gathering brings together global voices on Arctic cooperation and sustainability — including Prince Albert II of Monaco, Chairman of the Arctic Circle - H.E. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Research of Greenland - H.E. Vivian Motzfeldt and many other distinguished international guests. 

Representatives from ICR’s Director Anders Oskal and ICR’s project leader Alena Gerasimova participated in the Forum and  ICR hosted a dedicated session as part of the official program: Arctic Culinary Innovation & Diplomacy: NOMAD Indigenous FoodLab. Panelists of the session included:

• Anders Oskal, Secretary General, World Reindeer Herders; Executive Director, International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry (ICR)

• Sara Olsvig, International Chair, Inuit Circumpolar Council

• Alena Gerasimova, NOMAD Project Leader, International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry (ICR)

• Rockford Weitz, Professor and Leader of the Arctic and Maritime Program, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, USA

• Kjell Stokvik, Managing Director, Centre for High North Logistics (CHNL), Nord University, Norway
• Anne Brunel, Coordinator at the Indigenous Peoples Unit, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations (UN)

This session highlighted how Indigenous food knowledge, innovation, and culinary diplomacy can strengthen Arctic collaboration, cultural resilience, and sustainable futures. ICR was honored to contribute to this vital dialogue in Rome and to showcase the power of Arctic food systems as a bridge between cultures.