From the heart of Naples to the international stage of the Fancy Food Show in New York, Pasquale Riccio, national president of Campus Salute – Progetto Alfa, brings his message of prevention, health and sustainable lifestyles. In this interview he talks about the commitment of a network made up of volunteers, the project’s international outlook and the idea of a “planeterranean” diet as a global model for collective well-being.
As president, you have a key role in guiding this organization toward promoting well-being. As you often say, however, “good is not enough-it must be organized and structured” to produce concrete effects in the community and stimulate virtuous emulation. I would then ask you to tell us more about this project, the efforts of you and your team, and the implications that the public may not know behind this important prevention activity.
First of all, thank you for the opportunity to tell you about our experience in such an important and internationally visible context. We are well aware that New York is a bit of the center of the world when it comes to imparting cultural breakthroughs.
Campus Salute is an association network of which I am honored to be president, active for more than 15 years in promoting the culture of prevention and healthy lifestyles. Therefore, we could not miss it here.
What we bring forward is an absolutely replicable, emulatable, scalable model. For us it is not important who does it, but how it is done, and with what goal. And our goal is to bring people closer to mindfulness: taking care of themselves, their bodies, their psyches, to better deal with daily challenges.
We have been doing this for years in the squares, in schools, in contexts like this one, developing new visions of prevention. In Italy we stand alongside the national health system to support it in what we call a great cultural battle. Because prevention is, first and foremost, a cultural revolution. A revolution that can help the country to have more aware and healthy citizens.
You used a very important word: “cultural revolution.” That is precisely the key point. Changing daily habits requires a change in mentality. Campus Salute was born in Naples, but today you are present all over Italy with an activity strongly rooted in the territory. Given our presence here in New York, I ask you: do you have plans for international expansion? Are you thinking of projects that go beyond national borders?
Absolutely. And let me say one important thing: Our activity is based almost entirely on the work of volunteers, to whom we owe a huge thanks. They are our strength.
We were born in Italy, in Naples, Campania, and thanks to volunteers we have grown all over the country. But soon, we can say, we will also be here in New York for a symbolic stop, celebrating what we have done so far in promoting all-round prevention.
We are also active in the UN, at the Economic and Social Council, with proposals to improve policies related to prevention, both in Italy and internationally. And thanks also to the impetus that the Italian government is giving with the Mattei Plan in the field of international cooperation, we are bringing our ideas there as well.
In the near future we count on having a presence in Africa as well. There will be a lot to do, but we are ready, together with our volunteers and anyone who wants to help us.
Let us now discuss the link between nutrition, health and sustainability. Fundamental elements that directly impact what we bring to the table every day and, consequently, our health. What does it mean for you to be here at the Fancy Food Show, among the brands that best represent Made in Italy?
We are very proud to be here with our delegation. This event is an important expression of Made in Italy, and we, in our field, also feel part of this excellence.
Nutrition is the basis of a healthy lifestyle. In this regard, our chief scientist, Professor Annamaria Colao, who also served as president of Campus Salute, launched a revolutionary proposal some time ago: transforming the Mediterranean diet into a “planeterranean” diet.
What it means. It means combining the principles of the Mediterranean diet with those of sustainability, making it globally applicable and scalable. The goal is to promote a healthier lifestyle, including through the value of Made in Italy. And maybe, who knows, help improve the health of people around the world.
Being here at Fancy Food, alongside Italian excellence, allows us to see the sacrifices and dedication of companies up close. It is essential to remember this and also to thank you, who give us visibility and help us spread this message. We hope to return soon to tell you about our achievements and continue this journey alongside those who represent Italian excellence.
Thank you very much, Pasquale. It was a pleasure to collect your testimony. Yours is a message of health, of the future and of Italianness, which passes through nutrition care and prevention. We look forward to seeing you again here in New York, and hopefully soon in the rest of the United States, with new and more impactful projects. Thank you again.
The article “Prevention is a cultural revolution”: Pasquale Riccio tells Campus Health from New York comes from TheNewyorkese.