Slow Food turns 40 and celebrates the anniversary in Turin during Terra Madre Salone del Gusto

The story

In 1986, in Bra, in the heart of the Langhe, a movement was born destined to change the way we talk about food, agriculture and the environment. The initial idea was a criticism of the culture of speed which was also transforming the relationship with food. Three years later, in 1989, the movement would become international with the name Slow Food and with a manifesto that explicitly proposed itself as an alternative to the "fast life". Slow Food celebrates its 40th anniversary this year in Turin, during Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, scheduled for 24 to 27 September. Four decades in which what was born as Arcigola has become an international organization present in over 120 countries. It was July 26, 1986 when the founding congress of the association closed and Carlo Petrini was elected president.

In-depth analysis

Terra Madre Salone del Gusto from 24 September: program and events

Slow Food today

But over the years, food becomes only the starting point of a broader reflection. The defense of good healthy food and local traditions is accompanied by the protection of biodiversity, environmental and social sustainability and the valorisation of agricultural communities. It is the vision summarized in the formula of "good, clean and fair".

The nineties then marked some decisive stages: Slow Food Editore was founded in 1990 and the first edition of Osteria d'Italia was published. In 1994 the Taste Laboratories arrived and in 1996, in Turin, the first edition of the Salone Internazionale del Gusto, where the Ark of Taste, the catalog of traditional products at risk of disappearing, was also presented.

Terra Madre was born in 2004: five thousand delegates from 130 countries met for the first time in Turin, including farmers, fishermen, artisans, cooks, researchers and representatives of local communities. Food thus becomes a lens to also talk about the social, economic and environmental conditions of its production. In 2012 Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre come together, bringing the international network of food communities and a reflection on agriculture, territories, biodiversity and economic relations to the center of the Turin event.

40th anniversary

Forty years later, Slow Food returns to Turin to tell its story, but also to question itself about the future. For the 2026 edition, Terra Madre is proposing "Forty Voices for Forty Years": four days and 40 protagonists called to retrace, each from a different point of view, the changes experienced by the movement and the food system. Not just a celebration, but a reflection on what has been saved, transformed or lost over these four decades.

Furthermore, the birthday is celebrated during the Terra Madre days. But in reality it is just one of the stages spread throughout the year, in which Slow Food has found a way to celebrate its long history. This year, at the center of the event is biodiversity - of flora and fauna, but also of foods, knowledge and cultures. This precious resource is thought of as a treasure to be cherished and a fundamental tool for guaranteeing a future for new generations. "For Slow Food, diversity is encounter, dialogue and a culture of peace - we read on the website - the only wealth capable of saving us".

In-depth analysis

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