Terra Madre - Diversity - Reciprocity - Fraternity

posted by Geoff Andrews at Friday, November 05, 2010

Terra Madre, Slow Food's biennial gathering of food producers, chefs, farmers,food activists and academics, had a particular theme for its 2010 edition, held at the end of October in Turin. This was the focus on indigenous communities. It was not merely a celebration of diversity, though in an increasingly homogeneous, market driven world of industrialised food, that in itself is important. Rather, through the stories of the Sami people, Scottish crofters, native Americans, maori communities from New Zealand and others, we heard about claims of recognition,the right to land, and the long battles for social justice.These communities, telling their stories in their own voices, argued the need to take power over local resources and to be able to shape their own economic futures; something denied to them under the new threats of unrestrained globalisation. These are also battles for food sovereignty, food security and to preserve biodiversity; these communities' ways of living and working are driven by traditional and sustainable methods of producing food. Rather, than seeing them as redundant, we should see them as resilient, reinforced by long-held artisan skill and knowledge. The purpose of Terra Madre seemed to be primarily one of solidarity. Carlo Petrini, in his opening speech to Terra Madre, talked of the importance of diversity, reciprocity and fraternity - the basis of 'virtuous globalisation'.

This week's Food Programme on Radio 4 followed some of these communities at Terra Madre, heard their stories and their exchange of experiences.