Regenerative agriculture to take center stage in Terra Madre 2022
The 14th edition of the Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, one of the largest food fairs in the world, returns in a hybrid format in Turin, Italy from September 22-26, 2022. Sustainable agriculture, food politics, and issues on the environment converge in Terra Madre through a series of conferences and exhibits with regenerative agriculture as the central theme.
Terra Madre is organized by the Slow Food network, a global organization composed of small-scale food producers, chefs, academics, civil society organizations, and representatives from local communities that are all working to preserve disappearing food traditions and promote food awareness amid the prevalence of readily available food.
Five main conferences will be held throughout this year’s Terra Madre where resource speakers discuss different perspectives on regenerative agriculture and how it could address food security and environmental issues.
There will be five main speakers, namely economist-journalist Raj Patel, biological philosopher Telmo Pievani, New York Times reporter Michael Moss, architect Carolyn Steel, and physician-activist Rupa Marya.
The conferences can be freely accessed virtually with the online audience being able to participate through surveys and quizzes.
There will be three main areas of interest for delegates. Three ecologically and symbolically significant crops will be featured in an exhibition space: grain, legumes, and chestnut. The grain takes a special meaning with the ongoing war in Ukraine, one of the largest granaries in the world. The legume was chosen for its soil-boosting benefits while chestnut and other wild fruits are vital to the regeneration of forests.
The second main area is a mandala-shaped vegetable garden being prepared with the help of the Turin Botanical Garden. Food experts may enjoy the garden while exchanging ideas as children and their parents join workshops and activities to learn about soil.
The third space is for people looking to learn about the campaigns of Slow Food, which includes projects as diverse as preserving pollinators to regulating GMO products.
Visitors will also get to participate in taste workshops where they can try out food products from different countries. They may try bottles produced by the Slow Wine Coalition or join workshops on coffee, beer, and Italian gastronomy. Participants may also take part on four dinner dates where dishes prepared by members of the Slow Food Cooks’ Alliance will be served.
The Piedmont Regional Authority and the City of Turin will help organize the event where 3,000 delegates from 150 countries are expected.
Terra Madre Salone del Gusto was launched by the Slow Food network in 2004. The event has been held every two years since then, with regional meetings held regularly.