Terra Madre Europe: Food as a Force for Change

This inaugural edition of Terra Madre Europe (Brussels from 22 to 24 June), marks the beginning of what Slow Food envisions as a recurring and strategic gathering in Brussels. By amplifying diverse voices from across the EU and showcasing agroecological solutions related to food production and consumption, the event aims to inform both decision-makers and the wider public about concrete responses to today’s multiple crises.

Held under the theme “Food for Change,” this milestone event will bring together a dynamic mix of European farmers, food artisans, cooks from all EU countries, policymakers, and activists for three days of vibrant discussions, interactive workshops, and communal meals. At a time of rising political polarization, Terra Madre Europe offers a vital space for constructive dialogue, emphasizing the unifying and transformative power of food to shape a more resilient and sustainable future. Here you find the detailed program. 

Stories from the Field: Voices of Terra Madre Europe

Producers from all around Europe and from Ukraine will be at the event to showcase their products and tell their unique stories. Sem & Georg Lexer, winemakers and breeders from Austria, have been growing wine together in Klagenfurt am Wörthersee for over 15 years. But their activities and attention to safeguarding the environment go much further: “Our values ​​are uncompromising when it comes to animal husbandry: We want the pigs to feel comfortable and have enough space. To ensure our pigs develop well, they have a large area where they can move around freely, in keeping with their natural needs”. 

Jean van Roy was born and raised in his family’s brewery in Brussels, Belgium, where in 1900 his great-grandfather Paul Cantillon had moved the family business. Brewers since 1937, Jean is part of the Slow Food Traditional Lambic Presidium. Lambic is a beer obtained through the spontaneous fermentation of barley malt and unmalted wheat. Even today, it is produced only during the coldest months of the year. Climate change is threatening it: with rising temperatures and shorter winters, the suitable period for production has shrunk for Jean, and if this trend continues, it will shrink even further. This is why the work of the Slow Food Presidium is so important.

Hardy Jensen comes from Denmark and represents the Thorupstrand Coastal Fishermen’s Guild, Slow Food Presidium. The Thorupstrand fishers use traditional fishing methods that respect the fish species and the marine environment. The nets, for example, could legally have a smaller mesh, but their larger holes mean the fishers avoid catching undersized fish. The most common species caught are haddock, lumpfish, monkfish, turbot and pollock, also known as coley.

Jacopo Goracci from Italy is a breeder and coordinator of the Razza Maremmana Slow Food Presidium. On the Paganico Estate Jacopo raises Maremmani cattle and Cinta Senese pigs following the extensive organic method, where the animals experience the forest as their home.

Thomas Galea  from Malta. Thomas is beekeeper and Administrator of the Maltese NGO for environmental protection and biodiversity monitoring

A stand will be dedicated to Ukraine, where Yulia Pitenko, Slow Food in Ukraine coordinator, will explain how she coordinates Slow Food activities in the country despite the ongoing war, in order to preserve animals, local varieties and seeds. 

Bulgaria will have an empty stand,  symbolizing the difficult situation Bulgarian pig farmers are facing due to swine fever.  

Cooks Take Center Stage

European and Belgian Cooks from the Slow Food Cooks Alliance will organize unique four hands dinners in some of the most interesting restaurants in Brussels. To whet your appetite, we can already tell you that Ukrainian Kseniia Hetia will be at La Bonne Chère with Alexandru Sapco, while Salvatore Macripò from France will delight customers at Le tournant of Denis Delcampe. La Buvette of Diamantis Kalogerinis will host Georgia Koutsoukou from Greece. Follow us to find out more on the menu they will prepare!

A Milestone for Agroecology

Agroecology lies at the heart of Slow Food’s global strategy. Through its Slow Food Farms initiative, the movement is building the world’s largest network of farms committed to agroecological practices and sustainable food production. Currently, more than 117 farms in 34 countries have joined the initiative, with new participants joining regularly. As part of Terra Madre Europe, the first Slow Food Farms in Belgium will also be officially launched.

In this context, participating chefs will take part in a dedicated training session followed by a discussion focused on small-scale food production, namely, the Slow Food Farm initiative, and on the role chefs play in promoting agroecological food systems. This will be a moment to exchange knowledge, reflect on shared values, and strengthen collaborations between cooks and farmers committed to good, clean, and fair food.

The event is co-funded by the European Union through the LIFE Programme.