With artists from 10 countries, each drawing on their musical traditions to create to create a bold new sound, the Orchestra of Piazza Vittorio is proof positive of the power of diversity.

Omar Lopez Valle, Cuba

© Bioversity International/Francesco Demichelis

With artists from 10 countries, each drawing on their musical traditions to create to create a bold new sound, the Orchestra of Piazza Vittorio is proof positive of the power of diversity.

Omar Lopez Valle, Cuba

© Bioversity International/Francesco Demichelis

With artists from 10 countries, each drawing on their musical traditions to create to create a bold new sound, the Orchestra of Piazza Vittorio is proof positive of the power of diversity.

Giuseppe Smaldino , Italy (l)

Peppe D’Argenzio, Italy (m)

Omar Lopez Valle, Cuba (r)

© Bioversity International/Francesco Demichelis

With artists from 10 countries, each drawing on their musical traditions to create to create a bold new sound, the Orchestra of Piazza Vittorio is proof positive of the power of diversity.

Evandro dos Reis, Brazil (l)

Ziad Trabelsi, Tunisia (r).

© Bioversity International/Francesco Demichelis

With artists from 10 countries, each drawing on their musical traditions to create to create a bold new sound, the Orchestra of Piazza Vittorio is proof positive of the power of diversity.

John Maida (l)

Evandro dos Reis (r)

© Bioversity International/Francesco Demichelis

With artists from 10 countries, each drawing on their musical traditions to create to create a bold new sound, the Orchestra of Piazza Vittorio is proof positive of the power of diversity.

Ezster Nagypal, Hungary

© Bioversity International/Francesco Demichelis

With artists from 10 countries, each drawing on their musical traditions to create to create a bold new sound, the Orchestra of Piazza Vittorio is proof positive of the power of diversity.

Gaia Orsoni, Italy

© Bioversity International/Francesco Demichelis

With artists from 10 countries, each drawing on their musical traditions to create to create a bold new sound, the Orchestra of Piazza Vittorio is proof positive of the power of diversity.

John Maida, USA.

© Bioversity International/Francesco Demichelis

The launch event kicked off with a lively round table discussion on the links between agricultural biodiversity and culture featuring scientists, philosophers and writers. Emanuela Falcetti, a well known radio and television journalist, served as moderator.

© Bioversity International/Francesco Demichelis

With artists from 10 countries, each drawing on their musical traditions to create to create a bold new sound, the Orchestra of Piazza Vittorio is proof positive of the power of diversity.

Carlos Paz, Ecuador

© Bioversity International/Francesco Demichelis

Exhibits of some traditional foods of Kenya.

© Bioversity International

These beautiful drawings of plant, animal and human diversity were provided by students from a local elementary school, E. Marchiafave.

© Bioversity International/Francesco Demichelis

The Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Japheth Mbiuki launches the CBD booklet on biodiversity and agriculture, and the Diversity for Life in Kenya campaign.

© Bioversity International

With artists from 10 countries, each drawing on their musical traditions to create to create a bold new sound, the Orchestra of Piazza Vittorio is proof positive of the power of diversity.

Carlos Paz, Ecuador

© Bioversity International/Francesco Demichelis

Examples of agricultural and cultural diversity were on display all around the Teatro Eliseo in Rome, Italy, where the global awareness campaign, Diversity for Life, was launched on 22 May 2008.

© Bioversity International/Francesco Demichelis

With artists from 10 countries, each drawing on their musical traditions to create to create a bold new sound, the Orchestra of Piazza Vittorio is proof positive of the power of diversity.

Ezster Nagypal (l)

Gaia Orsoni, Italy (r)

© Bioversity International/Francesco Demichelis

Bioversity's publications on display at the exhibition at the National Museums of Kenya.

© Bioversity International

The launch event kicked off with a lively round table discussion featuring scientists, philosophers and writers. Emanuela Falcetti, a well known radio and television journalist, served as moderator.

© Bioversity International/Francesco Demichelis

Prof. Giovanni Aliotta, Professor of Botanics, Second University of Naples (l) and Dr Beppe Bigazzi, writer (r). Dr Aliotta spoke of the links between culture and agriculture. Dr Bigazzi addressed the topic 'Population and biodiversity: is there enough to nourish everyone?'

© Bioversity International/Francesco Demichelis

With artists from 10 countries, each drawing on their musical traditions to create to create a bold new sound, the Orchestra of Piazza Vittorio is proof positive of the power of diversity.

Carlos Paz, Ecuador

© Bioversity International/Francesco Demichelis

The reception that followed the launch of the global campaign, Diversity for Life, gave guests an opportunity to examine the many exhibits highlighting the campaign's themes of cultural and agricultural diversity while sampling food from eight countries.

© Bioversity International/Francesco Demichelis

With artists from 10 countries, each drawing on their musical traditions to create to create a bold new sound, the Orchestra of Piazza Vittorio is proof positive of the power of diversity.

Gaia Orsoni, Italy.

© Bioversity International/Francesco Demichelis

With artists from 10 countries, each drawing on their musical traditions to create to create a bold new sound, the Orchestra of Piazza Vittorio is proof positive of the power of diversity.

Ziad Trabelsi, Tunisia.

© Bioversity International/Francesco Demichelis

Prof. Gian Tomasso Scarascia Mugnozza, President, National Academy of Sciences (l) and Dr. Emile Frison, Director General, Bioversity International. Prof. Scarasia Mugnozza spoke of Italy's long time role as champion of international efforts on agricultural biodiversity. Dr. Frison launched the global awareness campaign, Diversity for Life.

© Bioversity International/Francesco Demichelis

Guests arriving at the launch of the Diversity for Life campaign, which was held on the International Day for Biodiversity, 22 May 2008 at the Teatro Eliseo in Rome, Italy.

© Bioversity International/Francesco Demichelis