The consumption of pasta around the world has almost doubled in a decade.

That is according to the International Pasta Organisation - which says the amount of pasta being eaten has gone from almost nine to 15 million tons.

Friday marks World Pasta Day - which was conceived to celebrate the symbol of the Mediterranean diet.

Now in its 21st year, the event focuses on taste, creativity, care for well-being and passion for good food.

It also marks the end of the week-long 'Al Dente' festival.

More than 100 restaurants all over the globe  put pasta dishes on their menus to inspire #Pasta2050 - exploring six main trends that will mark pasta consumption in the next 30 years.

An employee checks fresh pasta in Riesa, Germany | Image: Jan Woitas/DPA/PA Images

These trends are: Eat Traditional (pasta with tomato), Eat Ethical (pasta, vegetables and sustainability), Eat Global (pasta fusion), Eat Different (pasta with ingredients to be discovered), Eat Simple (more and more basic and healthy pasta) and Eat Conscious (the correct information challenge).

Raffaello Ragaglini is secretary-general of the International Pasta Organisation.

"After 50years working with Italian, European and international pasta industrialists, I can state with absolute conviction that pasta has been and will continue being the queen of cuisine.

"Pasta is the best embodiment of a healthy, safe and conscious food culture that also cares for environmental sustainability.

"Therefore, we can summarise the true essence of pasta as: passion, tradition, sharing, quality, health and sustainability.

"The great director Federico Fellini loved to say that life is a combination of magic and pasta.

"I would add that these two elements represent the dream of a better future for humankind".