The Slow Food movement is an international non-profit association that is part of a larger organization called the Alternative Food Movement. Founded in 1989, its mission is to promote sustainable food, biodiversity and culinary systems.
The primary objective of the Slow Food movement is to protect and preserve local food cultures from the harmful effects of modern food trends such as junk food, and to promote the quality of products and the pleasure of eating well.
Slow Food focuses on the social and economic dimension of food as well as its cultural and political aspects in order to develop a global food consciousness.
How does the Slow Food movement work?
The Slow Food movement is governed by an International Council of elected members who meet annually to discuss strategies and initiatives. Local or regional groups are organized to facilitate local activities to raise awareness of the movement and encourage participation.
The main initiative proposed by the movement is the organization of gastronomic and community events such as farmers' markets, festivals, exchanges between producers and culinary workshops, to stimulate people's taste for healthy and organic products from small farms.
At these events, representatives of the movement talk about sustainable food and explain how everyone can help improve local food practices and support biodiversity.
The fundamental principles of the Slow Food movement
- Biodiversity: the movement is committed to working for the conservation of ancient and endangered varieties of plants and animals, as well as the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices.
- Nutritional quality: Promote access to healthy and nutritious food for all.
- Food Sovereignty: guarantee everyone the right to access healthy and affordable food.
- Equity: ensure that the benefits of sustainable food are available to all.
- Culinary Culture: recognize and encourage the diversity of knowledge and flavors generated by local food systems.
- Ecology: Address the root causes that threaten food biodiversity and support local solutions for the long term.
The Slow Food movement has branches in more than 160 countries around the world where it has helped create thousands of projects to support small local producers, promote ecological farming practices, and transform food patterns.
The movement's flagship actions are supported by the members and the involvement of local communities who find a common interest in fighting against the exploitation and destruction of nature, and in promoting traditional food cultures.
The Slow Food movement addresses the root causes of food problems related to the industrialization of food systems and globalization. It advocates for a return to healthy and sustainable food for all, for the recognition of local knowledge and food traditions, for the preservation of food biodiversity and the promotion of sustainable food systems.
