Slow Food

On this #WorldFoodDay, let us all be reminded of the fact that there can be no climate justice without food justice. The way we grow, process, trade, and consume food is both shaping and being shaped by the climate crisis. Yet food also holds the power to heal, when rooted in the values of good, clean and fair. As millions still struggle to access safe, nutritious, and affordable food, we must reimagine our food systems to serve people and the planet alike. True resilience begins when communities reclaim their right to define how their food is produced and shared. This year’s theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future,” calls us to act with unity and urgency. By prioritizing agroecology, defending biodiversity, and recognizing food as a universal human right, we can build a future where nourishment, culture, and climate come together on every table. As the world prepares for #COP30 in Belém, Brazil (November 10–21), Slow Food calls on global leaders to place the just transition of food systems at the heart of climate negotiations. The climate crisis has reshaped our world, and unless we urgently rethink how food is grown, processed, traded and consumed, we will never be able to respond effectively. This is why Slow Food is presenting its key demands to government representatives participating in #COP30. Find out more here! http://bit.ly/47bVKVN

This week, Slow Food is taking part in the #MUFPP Global Forum 2025 in Milan, an inspiring opportunity to reconnect with cities, organizations, and partners committed to shaping sustainable urban food systems. As part of our participation, Slow Food is bringing the interactive Escape Room experience, designed to engage participants around the themes of biodiversity, food education, and sustainable cities, a playful yet powerful way to spark dialogue and reflection on the future of food. This moment is made even more meaningful as Fondazione Slow Food and the Municipality of Milan, through the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact Secretariat, have signed a Letter of Intent to further strengthen a long-standing collaboration. From Expo 2015 to projects like CleverFood, Food Trails, and SchoolFood4Change, we’ve built a strong partnership grounded in shared values, and this new agreement reaffirms our shared commitment to connect biodiversity, education, and cities for good, clean and fair food for all. “Through the exchanges we create, we build our identities and shape the future of food. Today, we face three key challenges: defending local products as a modern and revolutionary act; ensuring the right to quality and healthy food for all; and making sure that food is a bridge for peace, not a weapon. While educating young generations to face these challenges, we must not forget the pleasure of food: it should strengthen empathy among people — because only joy can change the world, and food can be that joy. Change must start locally before reaching national and international levels. Local action is urgent.” - Carlo Petrini, Slow Food Founder Together, with the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, we will continue to: - Bring biodiversity and food culture into urban food policies - Support sustainable and educational school meal programmes - Create spaces, such as Terra Madre 2026, where cities and communities can meet and exchange ideas for resilient food systems Our collaboration keeps growing, as does our shared purpose: transforming food systems through cooperation, creativity, and care.

Throughout this and next month, we will be using our Instagram account to launch “Together we grow - Farming the future,” a campaign that aims to expand and strengthen the Slow Food Farms network of agroecological farms. From Puerto Rico to Finland and the Philippines, we will showcase farmers who are demonstrating daily that agroecology is not only an agricultural practice, but also a cultural and social commitment: protecting biodiversity, regenerating soil health, valuing traditional seeds, and ensuring resilient food systems for communities. The campaign’s goal is to bring visibility to these farms, highlight their diverse approaches, and foster connections across borders. By creating a living network, we aim to: - Support knowledge exchange between farmers - Strengthen local food systems grounded in agroecology - Showcase real solutions to climate and resource challenges We also invite our wider community to participate: during October and November, you can contribute by tagging farms in the comments that represent these values. Each farm suggested helps grow this international movement of care, resilience, and collaboration. Because when we grow together, we grow stronger. Make sure to follow us on IG to help support and grow this world wide network: https://lnkd.in/edcUXaBy Lear more about the Slow Food Farms: https://lnkd.in/e95et4-8

From Malmö, a wave of energy for food system change is rising. At the Agroecology Europe Forum 2025, 350 farmers, activists, researchers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers are joining forces under the theme “Transformation in Action.” Over three days, they are exchanging knowledge, touring farms, and building bold solutions for the agroecological transition across Europe. Slow Food is proud to contribute with our workshop “Agroecology on a plate,” where members of the Slow Food Farms network shared their stories, challenges, and successes. Because behind every sustainable practice lies a farmer whose voice deserves to be heard. As Erica Miller-Herren of True North Farm in Sweden reminds us: “Networking and collaboration are everything for a small-scale farm… having a strong network gives us the inspiration, community, and support that we need to continue.” And in the words of our network coordinator Eleonora Olivero: “Moments like these are truly powerful, as they bring together people from different countries and diverse backgrounds to engage in dialogue, share perspectives, and work on common grassroots solutions.” The message is clear: only together can we move from vision to action.

Right now, Slow Food board member Francesco Sottile and President Edward Mukiibi are attending the Stati Generali del Riso (Rice General Assembly) in Vigevano (Lombardy, Italy), a gathering dedicated to the future of rice and its crucial role in agricultural biodiversity. “Rice nourishes communities and shapes cultures. Yet the erosion of its biodiversity threatens our resilience and the sustainability of our food systems. Protecting and promoting the countless varieties born from farmers’ wisdom is a collective responsibility. Through agroecology, working with nature to sustain biodiversity, empower farmers, and strengthen food sovereignty, we can ensure rice remains a symbol of life, diversity, and hope for generations to come. I warmly welcome the birth of the Slow Rice Coalition in Italy, and I hope it will soon grow into a powerful global movement for the protection of rice biodiversity." Edie Mukiibi, President, Slow Food. Reflecting this vision, a major milestone of the event is the launch of the Slow Rice Coalition in Italy, a dynamic alliance of farmers, researchers, cooks, consumers, and activists committed to preserving rice biodiversity, countering the risks of genetic uniformity, and promoting resilient, locally adapted varieties. The event provides a valuable platform to exchange knowledge from the 33 Italian provinces where rice is grown, fostering a discussion on sustainable practices that support both biodiversity and agricultural livelihoods. Our sincere thanks to Stefano Bocchi and the University of Milan for organizing and hosting such an important event. #agroecology #SlowFood #RiceBiodiversity #SustainableAgriculture #FoodSystems #Italy #StatiGeneraliDelRiso #SlowRice

#TerraMadreAmericas is officially a wrap, and what made these three days unforgettable were the more than 200 Slow Food delegates from 22 countries, who brought their knowledge, traditions, and struggles to Sacramento. Farmers, fishers, Indigenous and Afro-descendant leaders, cooks, producers, and activists became the soul of this gathering, meeting with over 160,000 participants who came to learn, taste, and celebrate together. They reminded us that food is never just food: it is community, joy, and politics. It is how we resist nationalism, break down walls, and build bridges of solidarity across borders. As President Edward Mukiibi reminded us, “food is the most powerful tool to fight against nationalism.” To every delegate, panelist, and participant, thank you for making this Terra Madre Americas a true act of resistance and hope. Until 2027, we carry your voices and your energy forward. 🐌 The event has been organized thanks to the support of Agroecology Fund, Ayni Fund, Bank of America, Caribbean Agroecology Institute, CS Fund, European Union, SMUD, UC Davis Health, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Wilton Rancheria. In partnership with Global Alliance for the Future of Food, International Funders for Indigenous Peoples, Tamalpais Trust.

Celebrating the next generation of hospitality leaders at #TerraMadreAmericas! More than 10 recipients of the Slow Food Negroni Week Fund scholarships joined us in Sacramento this weekend to share their stories, connect with the global Slow Food community, and explore how food and drink can be tools for change. Among them were Rose Gonzales, Erin Dassler, Hansel Morales Zamora, and Jenniferb Yim, who also supported Danny Childs in leading the vibrant Slow Drinks space. From Travis Tober’s workshop on the art of the perfect Negroni, to Danny’s Slow Drinks 101 tasting rooted in foraged and farm-sourced ingredients, the weekend was filled with inspiration and creativity. Since 2022, we have partnered with Negroni to create the Negroni Week, a fundraising initiative by Imbibe and Campari Group. Together, thousands of bars and restaurants worldwide are raising funds to cultivate community, foster equity and justice, and build a better world through food and beverage. So let us all raise a glass for a more sustainable and equitable future!

Negroni Week meets Terra Madre Americas! Starting tomorrow up until the 28th in Sacramento, we will raise a toast to the future of food and beverage with inspiring conversations, hands-on workshops, and the bold flavors of the classic Negroni. As the official Giving Partner of #NegroniWeek since 2022, we are proud to connect this global celebration of hospitality with our mission to cultivate community, foster equity, and build a better world through food and drink. From Travis Tober’s masterclass on crafting the perfect Negroni, to the Slow Drinks 101 tasting with ethnobotanist and author Danny Childs, to heartfelt debates and gatherings with scholarship recipients like Rose Gonzales, Erin Dassler, Hansel Morales Zamora, and Jennifer Yim, the spirit of Negroni Week will be alive and thriving at #TerraMadreAmericas. Together with Imbibe and Campari Group, thousands of bars, restaurants, and communities worldwide are helping fuel the Slow Food Negroni Week Fund, supporting scholarships, wellness, innovation, and programs that protect biodiversity and cultural heritage. Here’s to raising a glass for change. 🐌❤️

🚨 New report, alarming findings. In 2020, the European Commission promised to lead by example and stop the export of #pesticides banned within the EU. Fast forward to 2024: 📈 Almost 122,000 tonnes of these pesticides were approved for export (a 50% increase since 2018). 🌍 75% went to low- and middle-income countries, where no regulation prohibits their use. 🐝 Among them: neonicotinoids, the “bee-killers” banned from EU fields since 2019. This practice is not only a toxic double standard, it undermines the EU’s credibility and global leadership on #sustainability. As NGOs, trade unions, and even several Member States stress, the Commission must act now: ban these exports and stop putting industrial giants' profits before people and the very nature we all rely on to survive. Read the full investigation by Public Eye & Greenpeace 👉 https://lnkd.in/gNiKpgjC #ToxicTrade #FoodSystems #EnvironmentalJustice

Join our screening of THE PICKERS in Brussels tomorrow, Wed 24 Sep at 19:00, as the #BacktotheFuture March reaches the heart of the EU and demands that we make social rights and environmental protection Europe’s priority once again. Register here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eRRji7p2 Our Brussels screening will serve as an opportunity for MEPs, their staff and other stakeholders to see the film THE PICKERS in its entirety ahead of a special event at the European Parliament on 11 November when clips of the film will spark high-level discussions. We'll hear from Maria Noichl, Member of the European Parliament, and Ivan Ivanov from European Federation of Food, Agriculture, and Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT)