Terra Madre: The Future is Now

“Let’s bring home the spirit of peace and solidarity of the Slow Food global movement   and share it with our local communities”

“We arrived as delegates and we returned home as activists. During these five days in Italy, we experienced the passion and enthusiasm of Terra Madre, alongside 3,000 delegates from 120 countries. Together, we planned for the future and forged a new alliance,” commented Edward Mukiibi, Slow Food President, looking back at this edition of Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, which closed yesterday. This event stands as the most significant gathering for Slow Food’s global efforts on food policies, bringing together thousands of farmers, herders, fishers, producers, chefs, educators, food activists, and experts in Torino, Italy.

“Looking to the future, particularly in challenging times, we aim to create even more opportunities for our global network of more than 1 million activists and allies to connect in person, build relationships, and take collective action.   In 2025, we plan to host several regional events, including Terra Madre Americas in Sacramento, California, USA , Terra Madre Asia and Pacific in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines , and Terra Madre Nordic Countries in Norway . “We are also developing plans for Terra Madre Indigenous Peoples and working towards Terra Madre Africa in the near future.” 

A key initiative launched at Terra Madre was the Slow Food Farms , set to become the largest global network of farms dedicated to good, clean, and fair food, based on agroecological principles.

“More than 250 participants from 57 countries took part in capacity-building sessions over the past five days. They are now ready to bring the initiative to life in their regions. Our goal is to engage 1,000 Slow Food Farms by July 2025, working alongside local Slow Food groups and allies to support farmers,” Mukiibi continued. “Everything begins on the farm, as farms nourish local communities and ecosystems. But farms are also places of education and advocacy. Slow Food wants to amplify the voices of these farmers, connecting them to a global community of activists, chefs, consumers, artisans, fishers, and fellow farmers who have long been part of this movement.”

This focus on farms is directly linked to a broader truth: our future depends on nature. As Mukiibi explained,

“Saying ‘we are nature’ reminds us that when we destroy nature, we are ultimately destroying ourselves. This is the key message from this edition of Terra Madre, along with a call for peace and solidarity with all those unable to attend due to the various conflicts and geopolitical and social challenges worldwide.”

Visitors to Terra Madre heard these ideas expressed in the words of 700 speakers across numerous conferences and from the personal testimonies of hundreds of farmers, cooks, artisans, and activists who enlivened the marketplace and took part in more than 1,000 events. 

Terra Madre has once again proven itself a powerful space for learning, exchanging solutions, and building relationships among delegates, partners, and organizations—all working towards a shared vision of good, clean, and fair food for all.