At the heart of this edition, together with the international market numerous workshops and activities, three spaces, which represent Slow Food areas of work, allow the public to share ideas, projects and discover what Regeneration means for Slow Food all around the world.
Biodiversity
The Slow Food approach to biodiversity starts with food and includes cultural diversity, traditional knowledge and the work of communities in rural areas. At Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, biodiversity takes center stage in an exhibition space dedicated to three supply chains which have a particular meaning as regeneration is concerned. First of all grain, bread and flour, symbol of a social regeneration. Bread especially represents a strong political statement. With the war in Ukraine – one of the largest granaries in the world – and the end of exports, there are over 50 countries that risk an unprecedented shortage of flour. The war has put global food security in peril, making an already-dramatic situation caused by the climate crisis even worse.
Visitors then discover the world of legumes, to address the environmental regeneration: a simple, humble food, that doesn’t easily express its enormous potential. More attention is being paid to these magnificent plants nowadays, and all their beneficial properties both for us and for the environment. Legumes don’t just have a high nutritional value, they’re also important for soil fertility thanks to the nitrogen-fixing capacities.
And finally chestnuts and wild fruits help talk about the regeneration of the forests: Chestnuts are an important resource for mountain areas and for the ecosystem of the foothills. They safeguard the ecological integrity of the landscape, protect the soil, conserve woodland heritage and capture carbon dioxide.
Education
Slow Food has always tried to keep an innovative approach to food and taste education, based on reawakening our senses and training them to recognize various aspects of our food, from farm to fork. At Terra Madre delegates share knowledge through their own projects and experiences, while children and families can participate in several workshops and activities to find out more about our soil. Together with Turin Botanical Garden, Slow Food is preparing a mandala-shaped vegetable patch which will also be the gateway to the Education Island: after all, there’s no place that can teach us more about food. This mandala garden represents a synergic garden, an urban garden, a permaculture flower bed, and at the center, an edible food forest!
Advocacy
Advocacy and activism activities have been one of the pillars of Slow Food activity since its beginnings, and the movement is constantly trying to shape public policies and call attention to topics which are now being taken seriously by governments, particularly concerning the link between food production and the environment. In this space, people will be able to discover Slow Food’s advocacy campaigns, on topics spanning from the saving of pollinators to the need of keeping new GMOs regulated in Europe. Visitors will also be invited to take part in creative workshops organized by the Slow Food Youth Network.