by InTrieste
On May 8, an event in Trieste will bring together religious leaders, environmental advocates and scholars to reflect on one of the most pressing challenges of modern consumption: food waste.
The presentation of “Contro lo spreco. Cibo, valore, futuro” (“Against Waste: Food, Value, Future”), the latest book by Andrea Segrè, is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the diocesan seminary auditorium on Via Besenghi. Organized by the Circolo Laudato si’ of Trieste, the event situates itself within a broader Catholic engagement with environmental stewardship, echoing themes developed in Laudato si’, the encyclical by Pope Francis that calls for a rethinking of consumption patterns and their impact on the planet.
The evening will open with remarks by Giorgio Cecco, regional coordinator of FareAmbiente FVG, followed by an introduction from Enrico Trevisi, who is expected to frame the discussion within a pastoral perspective.
At the center of the program is Professor Segrè, an economist known for his work on sustainability and food systems, who will examine both the cultural and structural dimensions of food waste. His book argues that waste is not merely an economic inefficiency but a symptom of broader social and environmental imbalances. Where excess is discarded, he suggests, basic needs often go unmet.
In the volume, Segrè calls for a shift in perspective — from a model of development driven by consumption to one rooted in responsibility. Reducing food waste, he contends, is not only an environmental necessity but also a question of social justice, with implications for climate change and global inequality. “The right to food,” he writes, “is the most concrete form of social justice,” framing the issue as part of a wider “economy of care.”
The discussion will be moderated by Roberto Gerin, president of the diocesan commission for social issues, labor, justice and peace, and the safeguarding of creation.
The event also resonates with a symbolic anniversary: 800 years since the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, whose teachings on simplicity and respect for nature continue to influence contemporary debates on sustainability.
