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Terra Madre 2004
An alternative to the current industrial food production
system exists: one where food quality and variety are valued,
rural regions thrive, and links between producers and consumers
are strong.
From October 20-23, 2004, Slow Food held Terra Madre, a world
meeting of food communities, in Turin, Italy. Terra Madre
is a forum for those who seek to grow, raise, catch, create,
distribute and promote food in ways that respect the environment,
defend human dignity and protect the health of consumers.
Terra Madre was a gathering of an unprecedented scale, drawing
5,000 people from dozens of nations. Every participant represented
a 'Food Community' - which means they are part of a chain
of production, linked by a common product, ethnic identity,
region, history, or approach.
At Terra Madre, connections between individuals and communities
working in sustainable agriculture from around the world were
created. The four-day conference provided a meeting place
for a California apricot grower to speak with a Peruvian orchardist,
for Italian and Spanish coastal fishermen to share ideas,
and for Canadian and Ethiopian wheat growers to share meals,
discussions, and friendships. Together, with their collective
wealth of knowledge and experience, food producers can analyze
and find solutions to the challenges they encounter as stewards
of land and community. |
