SALONE DEL GUSTO: COMRADERIE BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT OF SLOW FOOD AND THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AT THE FOOD KERMESSE IN TURIN.

The third industrial revolution will begin in the countryside with the farmers”, announced Carlo Petrini, the founder and president of Slow Food, during the inauguration of the 2008 edition of the food kermess ‘Salone del Gusto’, and of the international farmer’s meeting ‘Terra Madre’. Two events that united farmers, agricultural producers, food communities, cooks, and docents from 153 different countries.
“The union between ‘Salone del Gusto’ and ‘Terra Madre’” – stated Petrini – “tells us that not only do quality products from the land exist, but that we can enjoy them thanks to the work of these farmers”.

The president of the organization that created these events also took note of the recent financial crisis and its impact on food: “in times of crisis food must be sober but of high quality because quality is not a luxury but a right”. Together with the presence of Italy’s Minister of Agriculture, Luca Zaia, Petrini also asked for help from international institutions: “For the fight against world hunger, in 2008, the FAO was able to obtain only 30 billion euros, but to save its banks, the European Union readily placed 2,000 at their disposition: so who’s more important, the banks or the hungry?”

“After the crisis the agricultural class will return as protagonists, it will be stronger and more determined in the third industrial revolution: from steam, we passed to electricity, now we are reaching clean energy, which these farmers will take to their villages, mountains and rural areas all over the world”. And Petrini also points out that managers should be using them for inspiration because, “recycling, not throwing away anything, is what farmers have done for centuries, and this is at the foundation of sustainability”.
According to Petrini, a sort of “New Deal” must be created: “we must have dialogue between the country and the city. This is my god, may god bless us”.
The inaugural ribbon for ‘Salone del Gusto’ was surprisingly cut by Francesca di Novara, a woman who worked the rice patties of northern Italy for 51 years. She was invited by Minister Zaia, who, though he arrives from the political polar opposite (center-right) from that of the Slow Food movement, has made public his agreement with Petrini. “I agree” – stated Zaia – “with the fact that the problem is at a global level. Proof being that 1 billion people suffer from hunger in the world, and, an even more tragic number, over 3 million die of malnutrition each year”.

This is an issue that brings attention back to the global question of production: “there are those who say that to nourish the six billion people who populate this earth food production must be doubled, and there are those who maintain that this is possible only with the use of GMO. But to this the ‘Minister of Emergency Agricultural Aid’” – noted Minister Zaia with sarcasm – “says no, and maintains a policy of total closure. On the other hand, where GMO products already exist abroad, it has occurred that natural products have become a luxury for the affluent, while the ‘indigents’ buy increasingly more GMO products, and this is not the right path”.

According to Zaia, the path that should instead be taken is that of the rediscovery of seasonal products, of territoriality, of farmer’s markets and “0 kilometers”, where consumers must meet producers, “who not only produce their food, but are occupied with their health”. Consumers must have an active role in this change.
”In Italy, 1.5 million tons of food is thrown away, for a total value of 4 billion euros and that could supply three meals a day to over 600,000 citizens. Consumers cannot, however, think they can arrive at a sales point at 8 PM and find beautiful shiny fruit or lettuce without a mark, but must help award sales points that do not waste”.

And while Carlo Petrini, during his discussions at ‘Salone del Gusto’ told Minister Zaia that, “his ministry will be the most important in this new era”, the minister, on his behalf, invited Petrini to “make Slow Food become even more popular, because we must arrive at speaking to the heart of the people”.