Hailed as the most extraordinary event dedicated to the world of food with more than 200,000 visitors, Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre 2012 exhibits projects, events and activities of Slow Food, a global grassroots organization with supporters in 150 countries.

A non-profit member-supported association founded in 1989, Slow Food now has over 100,000 members joined in 1,300 convivia/local chapters worldwide who are linking the pleasure of good food with a commitment to their community and the environment.

We have posted articles on Slow Food to this blog: Slow Food for World Environment Day and Experiencing Roman Slow Food.

Starting this year, Slow Food unifies its major events the 9^th Salone Internazionale del Gusto first launched in 1996 and the 5^th Terra Madre that started in 2004. Salone del Gusto showcases sustainable agriculture and artisan food production and connect producers with consumers that want to be aware of the impact of their food choices. Terra Madre is a network that brings small scale farmers, breeders, fishers and food artisans around the world with academics, cooks, consumers and youth groups so that they can join forces in working to improve the food system

In a huge exhibition area of 80,000 m2 the combined events has a Marketplace presenting more than 1000 exhibitors consisting of 200 Italian slow food presidia and 400 food communities from 100 countries. 

Three pavilions  of  the  Lingotto  Fiere  Exhibition  Centre  are  dedicated  to  the extraordinary gastronomic diversity  of  the  Italian  regions. In a special Pavilion for sponsors  of  the  event,  visitors can attend presentations and conferences, find books,  meet  authors, and participate in artistic performances.

In  Alliance Osteria, chefs  from some of  the 300 restaurants and eateries take turn  to cook special meals with Slow  Food  Presidia  products  present  in  the  Italian  and  International Marketplace.

The  Piazza della Pizza presents  some  of  the  best  Italian  pizza makers in close proximity with Enoteca that carries more  than  1200  Italian labels.

Numerous conferences discuss the impact of our choices on the future of our planet and our health and  address  pressing  issues  from  climate  change  and  urban  agriculture  to renewable resources and animal welfare. Educational activities range from games and fun activities for children and families to school visits.

A walk around the Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre ends at Foods that Change the World  a travelling  exhibition  that includes  a photographic collage of foods from around the world, sensory educational games, a vegetable garden for children, documentary screenings and educational activities to learn how to shop as  a  more  conscientious  consumer. 

At the Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre 2012, Indonesia is represented by individuals and communities that make the country proud.

In a conference titled The Grassroots of the Revolution: Edible Education, Hayu Dyah Patria, Director of Mantasa Research Institute was on the same panel with Vandana Shiva of Navdanya Movement, Alice Waters, founder of the Edible School Project, USA and many more.

Protecting the diversity of traditional rice varieties means protecting these countries’ most precious heritage. This notion is reflected by Helianti Hilman of Javara and Ugis Suganda Amas, a rice producer who sat on a conference on Traditional Rices in Asia and Oceania..

In the marketplace, PT. Kampung Kearifan Indonesia led by Helianti exhibits salt, spice and rice, thee gastronomic treasures of Indonesia

Chichi Bernardus, an editor in chief at Femina Group of Magazine in Indonesia, who is also a climate change activist, was also part of the Indonesian contingent. KOI, the Organic Community of Indonesia was represented by its chair, Christopher Emille Jayanata.

Terra Madre Food Communities also welcome four Indonesian communities:

KOMAS the Community of Spice Farmers of Sangihe Island who are committed to replanting the spice biodiversity of the Island.

Javara Food Community Indonesia and Kampung Kearifan Indonesia (KKI) who works closely with over 8,000 smallholder farmers/food producers in creating premium artisanal food products.

Kusamba Sea Salt Producers, that transform the artisan sea salt from the unspoilt seawater along the coast of Kusamba village in Bali , based on a centuries-old tradition.

The Kasepuhan Ciptagelar Traditional Rice Growers, an indigenous group of Sundanese ethnicity who for generations has  cultivated 59 indigenous rice varieties.

Foods that change the world

“Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre 2012 represents a defining moment for the thousands of  people  that  come  together in Turin  to  discuss  the  future of food,”  said Slow Food president Carlo Petrini. “Our daily choices and the food that we put on our plates determine the future of  the  environment,  economy  and  society,  and  it  is  more  crucial  than  ever  that  we  raise  a collective  voice  this  October  and  become  an  active  part  in  solving  the  problems  that  are  affecting the earth and the global community.”

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Images: Salone del Gusto e Terra Madre, Chichi Bernardus.