Within MIA Photo Fair 2025, the most established and recognized Italian fair entirely dedicated to photographic imagery, the fourth edition of the Irinox – Save The Food Award has concluded. The jury, composed of Katia Da Ros (entrepreneur and Vice President of Irinox S.p.A.), Claudio Composti (co-founder and art director of mc2gallery and independent curator), and Edda Fahrenhorst (artistic director of Yeast Photo Festival and »horizontezingst« Environmental Photo Festival, Germany), has chosen the winning project, which is by artist Francesca Procopio.
The jury's decision came after reviewing the 15 finalist works out of a total of over 50 artists who participated, and these works will remain on display in a dedicated section of MIA Photo Fair. The motivation provided by the jury and expressed by Katia Da Ros, Vice President and CEO of Irinox, recognized Francesca Procopio's multimedia installation for "the ability to tell tradition not as a denunciation, but as a conscious recovery. Through her photography, the artist invites us to rediscover good practices to reduce waste related to the agricultural culture of our territories, where respect for food has always been a fundamental value. A work that teaches us to see food as a precious and symbolic asset, to be valued and respected."
In previous editions, the winners were Alexander Yegorov with "Welcome to Yesterday" in 2024, Maria Giovanna Giuliano with "Ordinary Pleasures" in 2023, Malena Mazza with "Convivio" in 2022. Last year's edition saw a special mention for Simone Matti with "Poca Roba."
The installation encapsulates the meaning of the Irinox Save The Food award and expresses the company's attention and commitment to sustainability issues, particularly in the fight against food waste. The winning artist's photograph will be acquired by Irinox S.p.A. and will become part of the company's Corporate Art Collection. The photograph will be exhibited in a solo show organized on the occasion of Yeast Photo Festival in Matino (Lecce) thanks to the partnership with Fiere di Parma. This year, the finalist works will also be exhibited in a dedicated "Save The Food" show at Bocconi Art Gallery in Milan, curated by Claudio Composti, which will be inaugurated on April 3rd.
With this initiative, Irinox confirms its commitment to the fight against food waste, which does not end with the award within MIA Photo Fair but is being articulated in an increasingly broad project that the company is carrying forward under the name "Save The Food." The mission is to influence individual behaviors to reduce food waste by increasing awareness and promoting good practices. The company is supported in this project by a Scientific Committee that will validate the contents to be disseminated in educational materials and in the educational phase in schools. Irinox also promotes the culture of fighting waste in professional catering with the Save The Food award, within Identità Golose, awarded to the chef who has distinguished themselves for their commitment to this theme. This year's recognition went to Michelin-starred chef Chiara Pavan of the Venissa restaurant in Venice.
