“Those who know the land understand that we must never stop sowing, even in difficult times”

“We must love the earth. It is a way of loving ourselves and those who will come after us. This is the importance of the work you have done over the years, of the campaigns you have launched for food safety, biodiversity, sustainability, and food education. Thanks to the networks you have built - under the guidance of Carlin Petrini - with producers, universities, and civil society organizations, food culture has now become a widespread awareness and a driving force for a better quality of life. It provides employment for many people and for many young people. Agriculture is a key sector and must be developed and defended. The future of humankind depends on it - it is, in its simplicity, self-evident”.It is no coincidence that Article 9 of the Italian Constitution states that the Republic protects “the environment, biodiversity, and ecosystems, also in the interest of future generations”. Best wishes to Terra Madre Salone del Gusto. Best wishes to all of you. These will be days of connection, learning, and reflection for so many people. An opportunity to sow the seeds once again. Those who know the land understand that we must never stop sowing, even in difficult times. Best wishes for a successful season!”. This is just one passage from the speech with which the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, opened Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2026 today at the Teatro Regio in Turin (to which WineNews dedicated a video), marking the 40th anniversary of Slow Food’s founding and the first edition “without Carlo Petrini, its founder”, as Mattarella recalled, while the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Italy, Stephen Hickey, read a letter sent by His Majesty King Charles III for the occasion, “and represents, right from its slogan “Biodiversity-Be diversity”, a testament to what he has left us and what he has bequeathed to us, the fruit of his thinking, years of work, and the dialogue he successfully fostered with so many local communities, study and research centers, and international organizations. This is truly an opportunity for our Republic to express its profound gratitude to him”.
The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, visited the Teatro Regio in Turin to attend the opening ceremony of “Terra Madre and Salone del Gusto” 2026 - running from today through September 27 under the theme “Biodiversity - Be Diversity” - to highlight the importance of biodiversity in agricultural, social, and cultural contexts. The event marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of Slow Food and paid tribute to its founder, Carlo Petrini, who passed away last May. Before the ceremony, Barbara Nappini, president of Slow Food Italy, met with Mattarella along with Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida and presented the President of the Republic with the “Atlases of the Ark of Taste”, the latest visionary project by founder Carlo Petrini, whose dream had been precisely to present them to the President. Comprising 18 illustrated volumes, organized by region and geography, it features plant varieties, animal breeds, breads, cheeses, cured meats, and desserts at risk of extinction: 1,450 products worth saving that represent, in the words of Slow Food founder Carlo Petrini, “seeds of the future, opportunities to build a better world”. Slow Food International President Edward Mukiibi, on the other hand, presented President Mattarella with a letter on behalf of the global Slow Food network that captures the hopes, concerns, and aspirations of millions of people who believe in good, clean, and fair food for all: “I asked him to help us carry our message beyond these walls, because the challenges we face today do not stop at national borders. Tackling the crises of our time requires global leadership, but it must begin by listening to the people who are directly affected by them. Together, let us remind political leaders around the world that peace, food justice, and the protection of biodiversity are political choices”.
“For a few days, the center of Turin”, said Mattarella in his speech before an audience of 1,500 delegates from food communities in 120 countries around the world, “will host numerous opportunities for encounter and dialogue; it will be enlivened by diverse experiences and cultures, centered on themes vital to our future. It will be an enriching experience for all of us. I extend my greetings to everyone present, to the President of Slow Food International, whose letter he presented to me I consider a precious gift, to the President of Slow Food Italy, to the Mayor of Turin, and to the President of the Region, the organizers of Terra Madre and the Salone del Gusto. I extend my greetings to the Cardinal and the Archbishop, to the Minister of Agriculture, and my greetings and thanks to the Ambassador of the United Kingdom, thanking him for the warm message from His Majesty King Charles III. “I welcome the representatives of communities, associations, and agricultural businesses who will enrich this open perspective on the world. A pluralistic world that, by addressing humanity’s primary source of energy and food, feels a sense of responsibility for our shared destiny”, he emphasized, recalling that Carlin Petrini helped create this world in which the importance of biodiversity is his legacy. “Biodiversity: the immense heritage that protects human health and shapes the environment and our lives. A heritage that challenges us. Genetic diversity has allowed humankind to evolve over the millennia. Without responsibility, without care for this wealth, humanity can diminish it to the point of destroying it, and destroying itself. Biodiversity is a crucial challenge for the future. Carlo Petrini described it very well as “the key to our survival.” It is a responsibility that requires action both at the grassroots level, through public participation, and at the highest levels of national and supranational institutions - Mattarella cautioned - with the impoverishment caused by the standardization of crops and cultures, the desertification of territories, climate change, and the accelerated disappearance of animal and plant species all standing out most prominently. This is the overarching issue of sustainability, an essential priority for anyone who cares about the future of their children and grandchildren. And while many of those who, until recently, scoffed at warnings about the changes underway are now silent, the decline remains equally unstoppable in the absence of urgent action. Biodiversity requires national and supranational policies that recognize the true value of this aspect, of this reality. Biodiversity is also a major cultural and social issue that affects people and the habitats in which they live. Petrini’s contribution has been original and profound in these areas, linking the protection of genetic biodiversity with respect for the diverse cultures of different populations, that is, for differences, and introducing us to people and realities far from our own. Biodiversity, Petrini repeated, is about exploration and encounter; it is a culture of solidarity and peace, as was just mentioned. And the value of the earth, of the lands, starting with arable land, becomes fully apparent. Food and the production of food resources seem to have once again become a strategic weapon - Mattarella emphasized - and, along with energy, are the targets of the heinous wars currently underway, which are increasingly directed against civilian populations. Hunger and malnutrition are reappearing in war zones, consuming immense resources. Wasting immense resources. Wars disguised as acts of national revenge are, in reality, an expression of the will to power and domination, with utter disregard for the devastating consequences on populations, cities, territories, and, of course, the environment. On this issue as well, we find Petrini in agreement with “Laudato Si’”. In that encyclical, Pope Francis wrote that “the human environment and the natural environment are deteriorating together” and that “we cannot adequately address environmental degradation unless we pay attention to the causes related to human and social degradation. In fact,” he added, “the deterioration of the environment and that of society affect the world’s most vulnerable people in a special way”. Here we find themes that are the very essence of Terra Madre”, explained Mattarella. “Arcigola, Slow Food, Salone del Gusto, and Terra Madre are all chapters in a book that has successfully united tradition and creativity, as well as respect, knowledge, rediscovery, and the revitalization of our roots. The future cannot, and must not, be erased by a present that becomes omnivorous. We, farmers, ranchers, fishermen, chefs, food connoisseurs, and consumers, are therefore called upon to form a great alliance, a food community that, together, sees us committed to peace among peoples. Now more than ever, the local and global dimensions are closely intertwined when it comes to food. Now more than ever, these issues are linked to an ethical dimension: that of human rights”.
“Even if they accuse you of being dreamers or naive, embrace and nurture diversity”, said Barbara Nappini of Slow Food Italy, who was present at the event, “because it means believing in a different vision of the world, a world in which good, clean, and fair food is a right for everyone. A world in which water, earth, air, plants, and animals, that is, the biological foundations of life, are sacred and respected as such”. The 2026 edition celebrates biodiversity in a special way and in all its forms, a theme Slow Food has been working on for 40 years: not only as agricultural diversity in plant varieties and animal breeds, but also as social and cultural wealth. Biodiversity is a guarantee of life and well-being. “Embrace and cultivate diversity”, added Nappini, “because it will lead you to build where there is destruction, restore balance where there is injustice, bring beauty and goodness where there is ugliness, and it will satisfy your hunger for justice and peace. You are already the agroecological transition taking place from the grassroots; you are translating it into concrete, collective experiences. You are already embodying a different vision of the world, one in which we recognize ourselves as part of the living world and where producing our daily food means caring for Mother Earth and not destroying it”.
“Carlo had a rare gift: he knew how to make someone from a small rural community feel as though their voice mattered in shaping the future of the world”, recalled the president of La Chiocciola, Edward Mukiibi, who met him in 2008 when he arrived in Turin as a Terra Madre delegate from Uganda. “He taught us that every community, no matter how small or remote, holds knowledge that the world cannot afford to lose. Today we are here because the world needs our voice and our collective actions; we are here to reject hunger, injustice, nationalism, war, and the destruction of biodiversity, the foundation of our lives. And above all, we are here because we believe that food can be a force for transformation. The future we want will become a reality when people reclaim the power to produce food, protect seeds, share knowledge, and care for biodiversity”.
The President of the Piedmont Region, Alberto Cirio, also spoke at the ceremony: “Today is both a wonderful and difficult day. It’s wonderful because Terra Madre and the Salone del Gusto are a celebration returning to the heart of the city. It’s a day of sorrow because Carlin Petrini is not physically with us, but his emotional and ideological presence is very strong, inspiring us to look with confidence toward the future and toward young people. I believe that this edition of Terra Madre, in the presence of the President of the Republic, who has always inspired confidence in young people, can truly provide a boost of hope and confidence in young people and in the future”.
“The presence of the President of the Republic at Terra Madre is a source of great pride for our city. Over the years, this event has forged bonds between people and communities from all over the world”, emphasized Turin Mayor Stefano Lo Russo. “Turin has become their home, the place they return to in order to reconnect. People from different countries come here. They bring with them their cultures, traditions, and stories. Terra Madre offers a concrete solution: it creates opportunities for people to get to know one another and exchange ideas. When these stories come together, no one loses their own: everyone emerges enriched. Today, here, it’s impossible not to think of Carlin Petrini: he taught us that an idea can be born in a specific place, take root, and then speak to the world. Terra Madre is living proof of that vision”.
The ceremony was also attended by Terra Madre delegates, representing the entire international Slow Food network, from Ireri Elisa Origel Rodriguez of Mexico to Mohamed Abdikadir Somo of Somalia, and from Xu Kung-Lien of Taiwan to Yuliia Pitenko of Ukraine.
At the end of the event, the Head of State visited the Terra Madre food communities that, thanks to Slow Food, colour and fill Piazza Castello with wonderful aromas these days. He was welcomed by Daniele Buttignol of Slow Food Promozione, Luca Martinotti, vice president of Slow Food Italy and vice president of the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, and Serena Milano, executive director of Slow Food Italy.