Conferences, markets and education programs focused on protecting local, sustainable food networks are planned for the first national gatherings of the Terra Madre network in Norway and Austria to be held next week.
The village of Aurland, situated in the spectacular Norwegian fjords, will host the first edition of Terra Madre Norway over October 23 -25. More than 150 small-scale producers and farmers, cooks, academics and Slow Food members will come together for a day of workshops on issues important to protecting local food networks and will tour the region to meet producers.
Organized by the 14 Norwegian convivia and delegates from past international Terra Madre meetings, Terra Madre Norway also aims to strengthen the Slow Food network across Scandinavia. Delegates from Sweden will be joining their neighbors event, including representatives from Eldrimmer, a training center for small producers in the Jämtland region, and from some of Sweden’s Slow Food Presdia.
In Austria, the first national gathering of the Terra Madre network is being held over October 27-28 in Vienna, bringing together farmers and producers with experts and consumers to share information, network and participate in an interesting program of discussions and workshops.
The Biodiversity Conference will include key addresses from international experts as well as various workshops focused on agricultural biodiversity, quality food, and sustainable production. Outside the city hall, the Biodiversity Market will introduce Austrian Presidia and Ark of Taste producers and their unique foods to the public, as well as a selection of Presidia and artisan products from Tuscany.
A daily program of Taste Workshops will offer visitors and school groups a chance to try carefully selected quality products, and compare them with standard/industrial equivalents. Both children and adults will be able to complete the Slow Food education course To the Origins of Taste. Chef Helmut Österreicher will be responsible for the culinary highlights of the event, offering visitors a special menu based upon carefully selected ingredients in the courtyard of the Vienna City Hall.
Terra Madre Austria is organized by the City of Vienna and Slow Food, with support from the Austrian Ark/Presidia Commission and the Ark project.
For more on Terra Madre Austria www.terramadre.at
For more on Terra Madre Norway: www.terramadrenorway.no
More information on Terra Madre: www.terramadre.org