Today, 3000 delegates from 120 countries arrived in Turin (Italy) to represent the whole world with their traditional costumes, highlighting the different colors and peoples they belong to.
Many of them are Indigenous people, many of them come from rural areas and, many had to travel for days to get to Turin.
They were ready to celebrate the anniversary of 20 years from the first edition of this gathering that changed the story of the food movement worldwide.
Edward Mukiibi, Slow Food President, spoke passionately to the delegates gathered at Dora Park for the event’s opening, reflecting on his first experience at Terra Madre in 2008. He shared how the event transformed his perspective as a young agronomist and farmer, shifting his focus towards activism.
Now as president, he expressed pride in the collective efforts made over the past 20 years. He also acknowledged those unable to attend due to global conflicts, affirming solidarity with them.
Mukiibi stated that Terra Madre represents unity in diversity and a network of peace, tolerance, and support. However, he highlighted the urgent need to address interconnected climate, environmental, and social crises, urging immediate action to begin from this platform.
“Terra Madre represents the history of the Slow Food Network and the work it has done. It has a symbolic meaning to reflect on the future of the movement but also of the food system,” Mukiibi said.
He added that it is an opportunity to bring the network together and strengthen our big global family, and to take action to create a better future for the entire world, taking care of nature, as nature has always taken care of humankind.
Carlo Petrini, founder of Slow Food recommended that this is the time for a cultural and political restart, this edition of Terra Madre requires a consistent effort to represent not only those who have worked it in the past 20 years but also those who will work with us in the future.
“Food is fundamental in the global ecological transition, it represents a common good and of relationships. We must break this perverse mechanism that allows a few multinationals to make huge profits by monopolizing food production,” Petrini stated.
A message of solidarity and closeness from Pope Francis was read at the ceremony, where he recalled the great pain and violence that afflict the Amazon region, the planet’s “biological heart,” where 33 million people live and around 2.5 millions of these are Indigenous, often forced to endure the decisions of those whose only creed is based on technocracy and money.
Dalì Nolasco Cruz, Slow Food Board member and referent for the Indigenous Peoples Network declared: “Terra Madre is an opportunity for the Indigenous peoples to remind everybody that we are the main defenders of biodiversity. We need to change the world. We urgently call on everybody. We, the indigenous people need this change, for us all”.
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