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Slow Food Looks At The Central Role Of Africa Within The Framework Of The Global Food System

Slow Food Projects And Food Issues Regarding The African Continent A Major Concern At Salone Del Gusto And Terra Madre 2014, Taking Place In Turin, Italy, From October 23-27
By Slow Food
Africa Slow Food Looks At The Central Role Of Africa Within The Framework Of The Global Food System
JUL 30, 2014 LISTEN

In terms of the flaws of the current food system, each geographical area faces different problems ascribable to processes of food production and distribution. This is why Slow Food takes on an area-based approach with its educational activities and projects.

While in the industrialized countries Slow Food focuses, for instance, on reducing wasteful consumer behavior, introducing healthier ways of eating, raising awareness about the environmental and social benefits of local food and promoting and safeguarding traditional products, the main issues for the African continent differ considerably; reflecting the consequences of an unequal food system. In many cases, communities are fighting for freedom from hunger and the right to food.

Through different initiatives, Slow Food actively supports African communities to help them turn the current situation around. These initiatives include the TenThousand Gardens in Africa project, the Slow Food Presidiaprojects, farmers' markets and the campaign against land grabbing. These projects have the potential not just to improve quality of life, but also to guarantee the very survival of local communities. For more information about our approach in Africa, please read the following document: TheCentral Role of Food, the Central Role of Africa.

This year's edition of Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre will see the participation of around 450 Terra Madre delegates from 48 African countries. The following conferences, Taste Workshops and products will revolve around Africa at Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre 2014:

Presidia products:
There will be 30 Slow Food Presidia productslanding at Salone del Gusto from Africa. Cheeses, animal breeds, vegetables, fruit juices, cereal grains and much more will represent the biodiversity and good, clean and fair food of 15 countries from the African continent. Among those enjoying their debut this year will be Ogiek Honey from Kenya (a typical product made by indigenous communities living in the Mau Forest) and SouthAfrican cheeses made with raw milk (inspired by Europe but adapted to the subtropical climate of South Africa).

There will also be spices (including those from Morocco like Taliouinesaffron or Alnifcumin), coffee (such as wildcoffee from the Harenna forest, Ethiopia, or Ibocoffee, cultivated in family gardens on the Quirimbas islands in Mozambique) or products such as KenemaCola (Sierra Leone nuts that are transformed into a natural drink produced by Baladin, artisanal Italian brewer) or wildpalm oil from Guinea Bissau(defending palm forests from rampant deforestation).

Conferences:
10,000Gardens for Africa's Future (Thursday, October 23)

Why is Slow Food helping to plant gardens in Africa? Because a garden tended by a family, school or community can guarantee food security, the protection of biodiversity and the preservation of culture. Supporting small-scale agriculture on the continent of Africa can provide poverty-stricken communities with a tool for building their own futures.

GardensAccording to Slow Food (Thursday, October 23)

SaltProducers Go Slow in Mauritania (Friday, October 24)

TheArk of Taste Docks in Africa (Saturday, October 25)

A presentation and tasting of some of Africa's fascinating and unique Ark of Taste products, from the Maghreb and sub-Saharan African countries, such as South Africa and Madagascar.

TheArk of Flavors to Save (Saturday, October 25)
FamilyFarming Against Hunger and Poverty (Friday, October 24)

Two Taste Workshops on Coffee:
Coffee production is an important topic when talking about the food system in Africa, the second biggest continent for coffee production after Latin America. However, coffee production around the world commonly succumbs to the flaws of the global food system, with producers frequently subject to bad working conditions often resulting from economic pressures and exploitation by Western countries.

This is why Slow Food, with its food communities and Slow Food Presidia, supports the production of traditional types of coffee, trying to guarantee a fair price for producers to ensure their livelihoods. Salone del Gusto will offer the chance to discover good, clean and fair coffees from different countries:

EthiopianKafa Coffee, History's First Coffee. A Sensory Journey to the Origins of Coffee (Thursday, October 23)

The history of coffee through taste: A journey along the road of the bean, starting in the heart of Ethiopia, where it all began.

SlowFood Presidia Coffees (Thursday, October 23)
Enrico Meschini will guide the participants through a discovery of Presidia coffees. From the wild coffee of the Harenna forest in Ethiopia and the almost-forgotten coffee of the island of Ibo in Mozambique, to the coffees of Central America and Africa.

In addition to this, inside the Slow Food stand at the Oval, one can discover the biodiversity of Slow Food Presidia coffees coming from Ethiopia, Mozambique, Guatemala and Honduras.

Salone del Gusto also offers the opportunity to delve into the world of couscous with the Taste Workshop:

The Biodiversity of Couscous in Northwest Africa(Thursday, October 23)

Discovering couscous from the Fadiouth Island Salted Millet Couscous Presidium (Senegal) to the variations from Tunisia: the semolina Lansarin and Gaffaya Ancient Durum Wheat Mahmoudi variety from northern Tunisia and the Sfax barley with octopus and harissa (from the east coast).

To apply for accreditation for SDG/TM 2014, please visit the following website: http://www.salonedelgusto.com/press/pre-accreditation/

For further information please contact:
℅ Slow Food Paola Nano, +39 329 8321285 [email protected] Sharon Aknin, +39 3274737220 [email protected]

c/o Regione Piemonte: Tel. +39 011 4322549 [email protected]

c/o Comune di Torino: Tel. +39 011 4423605 [email protected]

Organized by Slow Food, the region of Piedmont and the city of Turin, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies, the international Salone del Gusto event is coming back to Turin, Italy, now its 10th year. Dedicated to the world of food, Salone del Gusto is once more united into a single event with the international meeting of Terra Madre, a network of small-scale producers from around the world. Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre 2014 will be held from October 23-27 in Turin's trade fair Lingotto Fiere. It will see the presence of over 1000 exhibitors from 130 countries.

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