Slow Food International Council

The Slow Food International Council met in Stuttgart on June 16 for the last time in its current structure. The meeting was made possible through the dedication and organization of Slow Food Germany.

Councillors, elected by convivia in countries with more than 500 members, have participated in and followed the important changes which the organization has undergone over the past four years as it continues to grow across the world and embrace new opportunities.

The concept of gastronomy espoused by Slow Food today is the culmination of our past experiences and a response to the new challenges facing quality food production and conscientious consumption.
The model in which our association invests its future is rooted in the goodness of traditional cuisines and natural tastes, in the pleasure which characterizes who we are and what we wish to achieve. At the same time, the movement looks to the future without fear of confronting it and the complex problems it presents – such as bio-diesel.
We have already seen that bio-diesel opens the door to using massive quantities of GMOs, with consequences in agricultural production such as the price of corn reaching an all-time high – devastating for populations who depend on this cereal for their daily diet.

Councilors’ analysis of the situations in their home countries painted an extremely encouraging picture, with the number of members continuing to grow, as is the popularity of the movement. The International Council approved the proposed new statute, which reflects Slow Food’s evolution and dedicates more space to developing countries. Councillors also agreed on the way in which 42 countries will be able to fly their delegates to the International Slow Food Congress in Mexico this November.

Slow Food Germany, in collaboration with the Region of Baden Württemberg, also organized Slow Food 2007 – Good Taste Market in Stuttgart with great success. The fair attracted 10,000 supporters of regional and quality food production who sampled and purchased artisan food products of every type and had the opportunity to meet and engage in discussions with the 200 producers who came from Germany, Austria and Italy.
The fair also included an educational component for children that was devoted to the five senses, recording everything covered during the whole exhibition, and an educational space where schools, organizations and publishing houses were able to meet and present proposals for organic school catering, activities, publications and educational eco-gastronomy games. To see photos of the event or for further information: http://www.slowfood-messe.de.