The Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity was founded in 2003 to develop projects and new economic models to support the Terra Madre food communities. The Foundation’s projects are focused on protecting food biodiversity and traditions, and promoting sustainable agriculture. These projects are being put into practice all around the world, with an increasing focus on supporting projects in the Global South.
The key project is the Presidia: sustainable food production initiatives which build the capacity of a group of producers in order to improve production techniques, develop production protocols and find local and international markets. To date, more than 300 Presidia have been created around the world, involving over 10,000 small-scale sustainable farmers. Each Presidium supports a quality product at risk of extinction; uses traditional processing and/or agricultural methods; and safeguards native breeds and local plant varieties.
The Ark of Taste project was launched to rediscover, catalog and promote foods which are at risk of extinction, but have productive and commercial potential and are closely linked to specific communities and cultures. Today the Ark lists 1000 unique foods from 50 countries around the world that are threatened by industrial standardization.
The Foundation’s most recent project is the creation of a network of Earth Markets – places where small-scale producers and farmers can sell their products directly to consumers. These farmers’ markets are run according to certain Slow Food principles and are overseen by a community management group.
The Slow Food Foundation is funded by Slow Food and through support from institutions, private companies, and other foundations. It guarantees transparency in the use of the funds received and produces an annual Social Report.
Visit the website to find out more, and discover the hundreds of Presidia and Ark of Taste products:
www.slowfoodfoundation.org
Visit the Earth Market website to meet producers in cities around the world:
www.earthmarket.net
