Terra Madre
TERRA Madre brings together food communities working for food product sustainability and for quality which accounts for exceptional taste and respects the environment and people.
In the northern Italian city of Turin, in October 2004, Slow Food held the first edition of Terra Madre, a world meeting of food communities. Nearly 5000 delegates representing 1200 food communities from 130 countries attended Terra Madre, including farmers, breeders, fishermen, processors, distributors, cooks and agricultural experts. In 2006, more than 5000 delegates were joined by 1000 chefs and cooks and 200 university technologists.
At each edition of Terra Madre, held biennially, participants attend workshops and panel discussions devoted to problems they encounter every day as well as on broader themes, such as biodynamics and genetic engineering. Most importantly, they meet each other. Beekeepers from Turkey share their experiences with beekeepers from Zambia and Mexico. Bulgarian berry foragers get to know Canadian wild blueberry gatherers. Coffee growers from Ethiopia, Honduras and Laos discuss their work and possible solutions to common problems.
Terra Madre creates new networks among food producers all over the world that Slow Food continues to cultivate. Farmers, producers and distributors have since organised smaller meetings, set up websites to exchange ideas and worked to market and promote their products internationally. Slow Food is also working with communities to create dedicated small-scale projects.
Terra Madre 2008
Western Australian food communities make up 30 per cent of the Australian communities selected to participate in Terra Madre 2008 in Turin, Italy, 23-27 October. For the first time young delegates have also been selected.
Producers include:
Terri Lloyd / biodynamic cereals and flour producer / Eden Valley Biodynamic Farm, Dumbleyung, and Anna Lloyd / young delegate
Pam Lincoln & Louise Everett / market developers / ROSS Markets - regional, organic, sustainable and seasonal, Albany
Ross & Dallas Lewis / cow milk cheesemakers / Denmark Farmhouse Cheese, Denmark
Matthew & Tina Lewis / cow milk cheese distributors / Denmark Farmhouse Cheese, Denmark
Freddie & Jamie Kronborg / artisan food distributors / Big Island, Paulls Valley
Catherine Lee & Paul Capon / organic olive and olive oil producers / Regans Ridge, Moore River
Tom Wilde, Nerralie Wilde & Emma Hooker / sheep milk cheesemakers/ Cambray Sheep Cheese, Nannup / young delegates
Stephanie Dempster / goat milk cheesemaker / Margaret River Goat Cheese, Margaret River
Chefs include:
Vincenzo Velletri / Il Paiolo, Swan View
Sophie Zalokar / Pemberton Breakaway, Pemberton
More information
Terra Madre 2008
Terra Madre 2006
Slow Food Perth raised more than $20,000 from events and Western Australian government agencies in 2006 to offset the travel costs of the 12 producers and chef selected to participate in Terra Madre.
They included:
Gabrielle Kervella & Alan Cockman / biodynamic goat cheese producers / Kervella Cheese Gidgegannup
Patricia Tew / fruit and savoury condiments maker / Food Symphony Bullsbrook
Suzanne & Peter Little / wine producers / Random Valley Organics Karridale
Terri Lloyd / biodynamic flour producer / Eden Valley Biodynamic Farm Dumbleyung
Kelly & William Newton-Wordsworth / biodynamic beef and nut producers / Williams River Produce Williams
Jane, Bruce & Tom Wilde / sheep cheese producers / Cambray Sheep Cheese Nannup
Vincenzo Velletri / chef / Il Paiolo Swan View
Slow Food Perth acknowledges the support of:
Max Trenorden MLA, Member for Avon
Hon. Kim Chance MLA, Minister for Agriculture & Food
Wheabelt Development Commission and its Heartlands programme
South West Development Commission
World-Link
Singapore Air
Links
Views from the far side of the world thoughts, views and experiences of Western Australia’s Terra Madre 2006 participants PDF
Biodynamism in slow food at the far side of the world Kelly Newton-Wordsworth’s perspective on Terra Madre 2006 PDF
Terra Madre blog
Images
Slow Food Perth’s archive of images captured at Terra Madre 2006 by Chas Hauxby
More information
E info@slowfoodperth.org.au