(August 10, 2016) Solidarity flies with Alitalia. “The Italian company is proud to be the partner of the innovative project realized by Food for Soul, the nonprofit organisation founded by Massimo Bottura, chef and owner of Osteria Francescana in Modena, recently named best restaurant in the world “. The RefettoRio project, devised by Food for Soul along with the Brazilian non-profit organisation Gastromotiva, has seen the creation of a food canteen in Lapa, a neighborhood in the centre of Rio de Janeiro, where 200 meals per day will be given throughout the period of the Olympics and the Paralympics to those in need, recovering food surplus from the Olympic village. The gourmet meals in the refectory will be prepared by some of the best Italian chefs to whom Alitalia offered complementary air travel to Rio de Janeiro. The Italian airline company has also made available space in the holds of their aircrafts to transport the necessary materials (crockery, cutlery, food) for the commencement of activities in RefettoRio. Alitalia states that the project is the natural continuation of the Refettorio Ambrosiano of Milan model launched during the Expo. It will promote an awareness of food consumption in which the food recovery goes hand in hand with solidarity. The creation of a social canteen where Italian chefs create haute cuisine from food leftovers is furnished in a relaxed atmosphere thanks to the collaboration of famous international artists. It is estimated that at the end of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, over 19,000 meals will have been served in the Olympic Village thanks to the recovery of 12 tonnes of food that would have otherwise gone to waste. Alitalia’s collaboration with Food for Soul sees a further commitment to social issues and humanitarian organisations in the fight against hunger in the world. In December of last year, the Company launched along with the Italian WFP fundraising campaign “Give for Food” on its intercontinental flights in support of the school meal programme of the World Food Programme. (Red)