How can we transition our local food system? Can grassroots projects influence policy on a higher level? What are key elements for a successful community initiative? In today's episode I am going to tell you some stories of change. Stories of impactful grassroots initiatives that are boosting food system transition in different aspects.   A couple of weeks ago I was in Italy, in Cella Monte, for the project Shared Green Deal. A European project which aims to study from a social perspective...

In the past months, farmers have been protesting all over Europe. They're marching and driving tractors through city streets. But sadly, what's happening follows a pattern we see often. A serious protest, born out of real struggles, is being made to seem less important. It's being turned into a fight between farmers and environmentalists, or farmers and the European Union. And some people are using it for their own gain, like trying to win votes or protect their own interests.  Today, we'll...

How can cooks be of influence? What are practical tips for students to get their friends to take action? How can we generate change from a rural community? And finally, how can YOU get involved with your local food policy? In today's episode we will learn how take action towards a sustainable food future in many ways. We’ll listen to different perspectives and get super practical tips. This podcast is part of a small series dedicated to the Planting the Future challenge, in which we take a...

In today's episode we will learn what agroecology is, how it applies to agriculture, to fishing and regenerative animal farming and we will also get some practical tips on how we can find agroecological products and be part of the change... This podcast is part of a small series dedicated to the Planting the Future challenge (https://plantingthefuture.slowfood.com/)  Host and production: Valentina GrittiGuests: Moreen Ankunda (Slow Food Uganda), Matheus Sborgia (Regenerative Cattle Farmer at...

What’s the difference between beans and pulses? Is it bad to eat canned beans? How is Polish independence linked to the beans from the town of Lamim in Brazil?  This episode is part of a small series dedicated to the Planting the Future Challenge, in which we take a deep dive into our food system and its challenges, get inspired to cook up plant-rich meals, learn about agroecology as a solution and get into action! For more information on the challenge and to sign up, visit...

Is there such a thing as an ideal diet? Is there a place for animal proteins in a climate friendly diet? How can we effectively change the way we eat and make sure this becomes a new habit that persists in time?  This podcast is part of a small series dedicated to the Planting the Future Challenge, in which we take a deep dive into our food system and its challenges, get inspired to cook up plant-rich meals, learn about agroecology as a solution and get into action! For more information on...

Last podcast of the year: a great way to catch up with European advocacy highlights of 2023 and what to expect in 2024! Between 6–9 June 2024, millions of Europeans will participate in shaping the future of European democracy on the occasion of the European elections. It is a unique moment when people of 28 European countries collectively decide on the future of the European Union. Why does it matter from the food movement point of view?  Host: Valentina Gritti Guests: Madeleine Coste, Slow...

COP 28 has just begun. The attention of all those who care about the climate crisis and work to influence governments and institutions to adopt effective mitigation and adaptation measures have their eyes on Dubai. It is the first COP held since the full release of the latest update in March 2023 of the 6th Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (the IPCC). This report summarises and synthesises the most up-to-date climate science and provides the best scientific...

Why is it important to be activists? Why shall we raise our voices before COP28? How can we live in a more climate friendly way? Does it make sense to talk about the climate crises now, while so many horrors are happening around the world?  In this episode I will have a conversation with Elena Lucchiari, the Flash COP campaign manager at Slow Food Youth Network. Elena is a young Italian activist with a background in international development studies. The second guest of today is Shane...

We are going to focus our conversation on Greenwashing: what is it exactly? Who is behind it? How does it work and what can we do to face it?   I am delighted to carry out today's discussion with two experts on the topic of Greenwashing. Hazel Healy is DeSmog's UK Editor. She is also a freelance writer and broadcaster specializing in stories about food justice, climate and migration. Hazel recently published together with Rachel Sherrington the article “A Guide to Six Greenwashing Terms Big...

What are indigenous peoples' traditional foods? And why are they so important? What does it mean that they are still being colonized and is it possible to decolonize these foods? what can we do in our daily lives to support indigenous peoples and if we belong to an indigenous people how can we support our community? Today I will have a conversation with Luis Francisco Prieto, Indigenous Peoples and Afrodescendant Focal Point at Slow Food International, with a special focus on the topic of...

What is a fair coffee? How do we know if our coffee tastes good? What is the best way to preserve coffee and to prepare it? But first of all, which tips can we follow to buy our coffee? Today I will have a conversation with Silvia Rota, one of the coordinators of the Slow Food Coffee Coalition and this episode is dedicated to all of us who not only want to make more conscious choices, but also want to participate in building a sustainable and ethical coffee industry by taking small steps...

So many of the foods we eat everyday are sprayed again and again with pesticides before landing on our table. And we all learned over the years, one scandal after another, that this is no good news, either for our health or the environment. But what most people don’t know is the tight connection between pesticides and GMOs. As the European Union is about to take some critical decisions on both pesticides and GMOs, we unveil the troubling truth about that very toxic couple, which are tied by...

Music and food are both important cultural expressions of different communities, they are part of rituals, they are elements that support the creation of bonds among people and they are more direct ways of communication compared to language for instance. But music and sounds can also trigger a different sensory outcome when we taste food. So what are the connections between food and music from a cultural perspective? And how do soundscape and music influence our taste and flavour...

Get ready to hit the road on an unforgettable journey with Margaux Brochier and Maxime Bonnabry – two adventurous French spirits who traded in their chef and project manager titles at Refettorio Paris to embark on the ultimate Slow travelling adventure! Their mission? With Terre Terres they aim to learn, to explore, and to share the captivating stories of small scale farmers around Europe. And maybe to make a documentary about that as well! But that's not all: stick around till the end, and...

Welcome to a new episode of Slow Food Goes Brussels, where we dissect the political debates linked to the greatest challenges food and agriculture are facing. Cities are at the forefront of one of the most pressing problems of our times — food. According to the United Nations (UN), 54% of the world’s population were living in urban areas in 2016 — and that figure is predicted to rise to 66% by 2050. And wherever people live, they must eat to survive and thrive, ideally several times a day....

Ciao! Welcome to “Slow Food, the podcast” where we explore the beauty of good, clean, and fair food systems. From the coffee in your cup to the cacao in your chocolate, we uncover the stories of the people who make our food possible. How do different products end up in your shopping basket and who even decides what’s available for you, and at what cost? I’m Valentina Gritti, a Slow Food Youth Network activist, and I’ll be your guide on this journey.   We walk side-by-side with farmers, cooks...

In an era where urbanisation is sweeping across the globe, bringing with it a wave of challenges, few issues are as pressing and demanding as feeding our ever-expanding urban centres. There is an urgent need for change in our urban food systems, delving into sustainable agriculture, urban farming and community-supported initiatives that are revolutionising how we nourish our cities. Pasang Sherpa and Cecilia Barocio are young pioneers, actively involved in promoting indigenous foods cultures...

Enough food is produced worldwide to feed 10 billion people, yet hunger is on the rise. While vulnerable populations from the Global North cannot afford healthy and nourishing food, a growing number of people from the Global South must battle every day to simply get access to food. The current food system leaves many behind, putting profit before people. But such injustice is not irreversible: political leaders, from any level, must commit to reshaping our food system and giving it back its...

Tuna is a big predator and consumes a wide variety of other fish, making it a vital component of the sea ecosystems. It’s also one of the most expensive fish on the planet. Yet tuna is also an affordable and widely-available source of protein around the world, and herein lies the problem.  Can fishing Tuna ever be sustainable? Which guidelines can we follow to buy the Tuna Fish with the least impact? Is Tuna a healthy food? And most of all, can we still eat Tuna?  Guests: Jack Coulton,...

Welcome to the Spring edition of Slow Food, the podcast! Are you feeling the itch to get your hands dirty and start growing some fresh veggies or fragrant flowers? You're not alone! In today's episode, we're diving into the world of gardening. We'll explore how school gardens are transforming communities in Nigeria and the USA, and we'll get our green thumbs in gear with practical tips from the Frenchie Gardener on how to grow your own food, even if you live in a city apartment with only a...

His name is Josse Haarhuis, he is 25 years old and since 4 years already he has been managing Buitengewone Varkens, a circular pig farming company in The Netherlands. His objective is to put animal welfare at the centre and make sure that each pig has a goal.   Guest: Josse Haarhuis (Buitengewone Varkens)Host & Production and post-production: Valentina GrittiMusic: Leonardo Prieto This podcast is part of the project ON-FARM, with which we aim to teach local and regional farmers in...

Why is on-farm production and direct selling so important? Get ready to hear directly from farmers across Europe as we share their top tips for developing short chain trade from farm to fork! We'll also explore the obstacles they've faced and the valuable lessons they've learned. Guests: Raffaele Bomparola, Daniel Bravo Rodríguez (Valle y Vega), Hofgut Kapellenhof, Peter Van De Voort (Remeker), Marie-Odile Smet (Au Panier Vert) and Milan Hank (Vraňany Hanč)Host & Production and...

He is a cook, a farmer, a food producer, an entrepreneur and a dreamer. Coming from Colombia, he moved first to Italy and he is now settled in the outskirts of Amsterdam where he runs two companies: De Stadsgroenteboer a community supported agricultural farm and JARA, a food processing company. I am talking about Andres Martinez Jara.  I am Valentina Gritti, global community and project manager of the Slow Food Youth Network and in this episode I will take you to Amsterdam to meet Andres at...