The Prosperity of East Africa’s Food Biodiversity will be Featured at Terra Madre Salone del Gusto

23 Jul 2018 | English

Organized by Slow Food in collaboration with the Region of Piedmont and the City of Turin, the 12th edition of Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, the world’s most important international event dedicated to food culture, will take place 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 International Market will host a special area dedicated to showcasing Terra Madre food communities and Presidia products from across the African continent.

Ethiopia is sending a delegation of about 20 people, with representatives from all of the country’s convivia and from the Karrayyu, Guji, Mursi, Derashe and Gamo indigenous communities. Producers from the following Ethiopian Presidia will attend the event: Harenna Forest Wild Coffee (available for tasting), Karrayyu Herders’ Camel Milk, and three different types of honey, Bore Honey, Rira Honey, and Wenchi Volcano Honey. These honeys are all produced at high altitudes. High-Altitude Honey (September 20 at 4:00 p.m. – Torino Lingotto Fiere) is a Terra Madre Forum during which delegates will address this topic, and a high-altitude honey tasting is also planned. Moreover, a Taste Workshop on Ethiopian cuisine entitles Ethiopia – The Role of Biodiversity (September 22 at 2:30 p.m. – Torino Lingotto Fiere) will explore the rich and varied gastronomy of this country.

From Uganda we are very pleased to welcome Edie Mukiibi, agronomist and vice-president of Slow Food International, and a delegation of about 30 people from the Slow Food Uganda network including farmers and herders, agronomists and academics, teachers and students, and representatives of the Bakonzo and Banyankole indigenous communities. Edie Mukiibi will chair the Terra Madre Forum Resisting GMOs (September 23 at 1:00 p.m. – Torino Lingotto Fiere). Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) represent the extreme point of an agricultural, economic, and political system that is increasingly concentrating power in the hands of a few. Many African delegates, from Burkina Faso, Kenya, and South Africa will gather to discuss this theme.

Producers of the following Ugandan Presidia will be in attendance: Ankole Long-Horned Cattle, Bugonya Kayinja Plantain, Bukunja Climbing Yams, Teso Kyere Finger Millet Varieties (available for sale), Luwero Kisansa Coffee (available for sale), and Mount Elgon Nyasaland Coffee. During the Taste Workshop Uganda’s Diversity of Bananas and Millet (September 23 at 5:30 p.m. – Torino Lingotto Fiere) the public will try products from two of these Presidia. Producers, agronomists, and two chefs of the Slow Food Uganda network will introduce the public to the lesser-known varieties of bananas and millet, important symbols of biodiversity in Uganda. The Slow Food Chefs’ Alliance will serve traditional dishes from Uganda, such as katogo (steamed bananas and groundnuts stew), and kalo (finger millet bread).

John Kariuki Mwangi is also coming to Turin. Vice-president of the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity and member of the International Council, he is the coordinator of the Slow Food network and projects in Kenya. Speaking about Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, he 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 our planet.”

The Kenyan delegation is a very large one and includes members of the Maasai, Ogiek, Pokot, and Borana indigenous communities. In addition, producers from each of Kenya’s seven Presidia will attend the event to present the following products: the Lare Pumpkin, Mau Forest Dried Nettles, Nzoia River Reed Salt, Ogiek Honey (which will also be for sale), the Molo Mushunu Chicken, the Molo Sheep, and Pokot Ash Yogurt. Ezekiel Manyara, a chef from the Slow Food Chefs’ Alliance, will join Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, cooking some typical dishes from her homeland at the Terra Madre Kitchens. Within the Food and Health thematic area, Margaret Tunda Lepore, a young Maasai representative for the Indigenous Network, will participate in the Terra Madre Forum Diet and Lifestyle: The Maasai Paradox (September 21 at 2:00 p.m. – Torino Lingotto Fiere) and will investigate the effects of our behavior on health.

Tanzania is also sending a large and enthusiastic delegation. The Slow Food Chef’s Alliance is taking shape in Tanzania and two chefs will come to Turin for this 12th edition of Terra Madre Salone del Gusto. The Arusha Stingless Bee Honey Presidium will be represented and Mrs. Helen Nguya, with over 35 years of experience in community development projects with a focus on food nutrition, sustainable agriculture and entrepreneurship, will be attending the event. A delegate from the Tanzanian network will speak in the Terra Madre Forum Land Rights Now! A Global Campaign Against “Land Grabbing” (September 24 at 3:00 p.m. – Torino Lingotto Fiere) during which the global Land Rights Now campaign will be presented, and property rights of indigenous communities will be discussed. Janet Maro, executive director of Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT) will chair the Terra Madre Forum Feeding The Planet With Agroecology (September 22 at 10:30 a.m. – Torino Lingotto Fiere) to share her experiences in the field and talk about the work that SAT is doing locally.

A great Slow Fish story comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo where, since 2007, the Slow Food network has been developing projects to preserve the biodiversity of Lake Tanganyika, one of the largest and most species rich lakes in Africa. Today, the lake is threatened by pollution, excessive exploitation and fishing, deforestation, erosion, and silting. The local network involves civil society and local authorities, and this year decided to set up a Slow Fish Day in August to raise awareness among the population. During Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, a group of delegates from Lake Tanganyika will take part in the Terra Madre Forum The Art, Music, Cuisine and Poetry allied with the Sea (September 20 at 4:00 p.m. – Torino Lingotto Fiere).

From Somalia there will be a small group of delegates representing the country’s convivia, numerous gardens, and Ark of Taste products. The Somalian Slow Food network is engaged in crucial work to preserve local biodiversity and enhance food security and sovereignty, which are particularly important in a country facing decades of political, social and economic crisis.

Rwanda will join Terra Madre Salone del Gusto as well, with a delegation of eight people representing Rwanda’s Slow Food network.

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.

John Kariuki Mwangi – International Councillor for Eastern Africa

[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.

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