Terra Madre Salone del Gusto: a Venue to Strengthen Dialogue with EU Decision-Makers

Food waste, necessary reforms in agriculture and animal farming, and alternatives to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) will be among the main topics discussed with European Union officials and representatives of European non-governmental organizations at the 12th edition of Terra Madre Salone del Gusto. The event, organized by Slow Food in collaboration with the Region of Piedmont and the City of Turin, will be held in Turin, Italy, from September 20 to 24, 2018.

On September 20, the European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Vytenis Andriukaitis, will open Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, and participate in two Terra Madre Forums: Fighting Food Waste with Intelligence and Creativity (September 20 at 1:00 p.m. – Torino Lingotto Fiere, Red Room) and Antibiotic Resistance: A New Health Emergency (September 20 at 2:00 p.m. – Torino Lingotto Fiere, Food and Health Area). Later in the evening, Mr. Andriukaitis will attend the Convention Waste and Food Security in the EU (September 20 at 6:00 p.m. – Circolo dei Lettori, Via Bogino 9), that will focus on the theme: “Europe in my plate. Waste less, eat better.”

Other speakers representing five directorate-generals (DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, DG Environment, DG Health Food and Safety, DG Migration and Home Affairs, and DG Joint Research Centre) will address issues concerning soil fertility, effects of ocean pollution on fish products, beneficial insects in agriculture, and possibilities for using food as a vehicle for social integration. Moreover, the Commission’s directorate generals for Agriculture and Rural Development and Food Safety will have a joint stand, whose theme is “From Farm to Fork, Sustainable Food for a Healthy Lifestyle” and which will focus on the EU’s work to guarantee safe and sustainable food for all citizens.

“Terra Madre Salone del Gusto is a unique opportunity to strengthen dialogue with European decision-makers and our joint work with partner organizations,” says Marta Messa, Slow Food International Councillor for the European Union and director of Slow Food’s European office in Brussels. She emphasizes the importance of direct discussions that farmers, artisan producers, and activist of the Slow Food Network will be able to have with representatives of EU institutions. “Their voices need to be heard,” Messa adds.

A significant number of European NGOs dealing with environmental, food, agricultural, and health issues will attend the event as well. Representatives of organizations such as IFOAM – Organics International, European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), Friends of the Earth Europe, and Greenpeace will participate in discussions tackling topics such as animal caging, high sugar consumption, and adverse effects of pesticide use.

Food for Change is the guiding theme of this year’s event: More than ever before, the focus will be on people and the change that everyone can help to create. The five major themes that Slow Food has chosen to highlight are Slow Meat, Slow Fish, Seeds, Food and Health, and Bees and Insects. 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 full list of events is available here.

Marta Messa – International Councillor for the European Union

[email protected]

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.