Canadian Food Biodiversity at Terra Madre Salone del Gusto

A delegation of about 40 people from Canada is set to take part in Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, the world’s most important international event dedicated to food culture.

Organized by Slow Food in collaboration with the Region of Piedmont and the City of Turin, the 12^th edition of Terra Madre Salone del Gusto will be held from September 20 to 24, 2018, in Turin, Italy. Over 5,000 delegates from 140 countries, over 800 exhibitors, 300 Slow Food Presidia, and 500 Terra Madre food communities are taking part in the event.

The Slow Food Canada delegation includes family farmers, producers, academics, chefs, activists in the Slow Food Youth Network (SFYN), students, travel destination development professionals, and representatives of indigenous communities in the Slow Food Turtle Island network. The latter will be involved in the Terra Madre Arena, one of the highlights of this edition, where the Indigenous Terra Madre network will highlight the urgent need to promote and protect the food-production systems of these cultures, valuing their holistic approach and strengthening the ties with the entire Slow Food movement.

Bobby Grégoire, member of the Slow Food International Council and chef specialized in gastronomic heritage and regional cuisine, says: “I am extremely proud to be part of the international network that is Slow Food, and to represent a delegation that will take part in Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2018. Food for Change is the theme of this 12th edition and I am sure that, through exchange and dialogue with people who differ in culture, language, and customs, every one of us will return home richer and with new enthusiasm for pursuing our activities and striving for a better future for communities and our planet.”

This year, the beating heart of Terra Madre Salone del Gusto will be the #foodforchange thematic areas. The five major themes that Slow Food has chosen to highlight are Slow Meat, Slow Fish, Seeds, Food and Health, and Bees and Insects.

Much awaited is the presence of the marine biologist and harvester Amanda Swinimer who will lead the Taste Workshop The Magic World of Amanda: an Algae Forest, within the Slow Fish area, based on her personal experience (September 22 at 2:30 p.m. – Torino Lingotto Fiere). Her deep love for the ocean and the rainforest brought her to the west coast of Vancouver Island where she started her own business, Dakini Tidal Wilds, in 2003. For 17 years, Amanda has been sustainably harvesting edible seaweeds in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. In this region, high-quality edible algae and medicinal herbs are simply “pruned” rather than harvested, letting the rest of the plant continue to grow, while fully respecting the environment. With Amanda, participants will do a “taste snorkeling” through an underwater forest in the beautiful Canadian “emerald sea”, discovering the herbs and algae that inhabit it. Amanda will be joined by Kris Barnholden, from the Slow Food Chefs’ Alliance in Vancouver, who frequently uses wild products in his cuisine.

Mary Katharyn Gildart and Rachelle Richard-Collette, members of the Cocagne Acadie Convivium in New Brunswick, will come to Terra Madre Salone del Gusto to join the Earth Market Summit (September 23 at 3:30 p.m. – Torino Lingotto Fiere). Earth Markets is worldwide network of farmers’ markets (there are currently 66) that, respect the Slow Food philosophy. These community-run markets are important social meeting points, where local producers offer healthy, quality food directly to consumers at fair prices and guarantee environmentally sustainable methods. In addition, they preserve the food culture of the local community and contribute to defending biodiversity. Mary and Rachelle are working hard for establishing the first Canadian Earth Market within the Cocagne Acadie Convivium in Bouctouche, New Brunswick.

Two fishermen from British Columbia, Robert Cameron and Duncan Cameron, will also attend this 12^th edition of Terra Madre Salone del Gusto. They have been very active during the latest Slow Fish campaign in Canada, which invite people to find local solutions that support better management of freshwater and marine resources.

Taste Workshops and Cooking Schools are paid events and can be purchased online; the Terra Madre thematic Forums are presented by delegates of the network and are open to the public as long as seats are available. Click here for the list of available events, which is constantly updated.

Bobby Grégoire – International Councillor for Canada

[email protected]

Denisa Dawn Livingston – International Councillor for Turtle Island

Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2018 Press Office

Slow Food, +39 329 83 212 85 [email protected] – Twitter: @SlowFoodPress

Region of Piedmont, +39 011 432 2549 – [email protected]

City of Turin, +39 011 011 21976 – +39 342 1100131 – [email protected]

To request press accreditation, please click here.

Terra Madre Salone del Gusto is an event organized by the City of Turin, Slow Food, and the Region of Piedmont in collaboration with MIPAAF (Italy’s Ministry for Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies). It has been made possible thanks to its many sponsors, including the Official Partners, GLEvents-Lingotto Fiere, IREN, Lavazza, Lurisia, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pastificio Di Martino and Quality Beer Academy; with the support of Compagnia di San Paolo, Fondazione CRT-Cassa di Risparmio di Torino, Associazione delle Fondazioni di Origine Bancaria del Piemonte, and Coldiretti; and with the contribution of IFAD, the European Union, and CIA (Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori).

Slow Food is a global grassroots organization that envisions a world in which all people can access and enjoy food that is good for them, good for those who grow it, and good for the planet. Slow Food involves over a million activists, chefs, experts, youth, farmers, fishers, and academics in over 160 countries.