Terra Madre Europe Set to Debut in Brussels, Championing Sustainable Food Systems

Brussels is set to host the first-ever Terra Madre Europe from 22 June, bringing Slow Food’s iconic global festival to the heart of EU policymaking. More than two decades after its debut in Turin, the Terra Madre event continues its mission to promote sustainable, local food production, agroecology, and food sovereignty.

Founded in the mid-1980s in Piedmont, Italy, the Slow Food movement has grown from a regional initiative into a global reference point for ecological agriculture and food justice. Its flagship event, Terra Madre, began in 2004 in Turin and has since reached countries across the globe, from the Balkans to the Philippines, often backed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Slow Food has intensified its engagement with EU institutions. Since 2013, it has been active in Brussels and is now part of the European Commission’s permanent platform on agriculture and food policy (EBAF). The upcoming Brussels edition marks a significant step in the movement’s European advocacy strategy, aiming to turn Terra Madre Europe into a “recurring and strategic gathering.”

The festival will feature a market of Belgian and local producers, educational workshops on fermentation and tomato history, and strategy sessions on agroecology and sustainable farming principles. The goal is to influence EU lawmakers by offering a real-world, grassroots demonstration of sustainable food systems in action.

Another critical focus of the event is the food trade. Edward Mukiibi, president of Slow Food, emphasized the need to rethink how trade agreements impact food origins and sustainability. He argues that trade isn’t merely financial; it has deep social, political, and environmental implications. Mukiibi highlighted that while EU sustainability standards could be more ambitious, even current benchmarks—if applied to food imports—could drive global improvements.

He acknowledged the challenges this may pose for poorer countries but insisted that harmonizing standards, like enforcing zero pesticide residues, would ultimately offer long-term benefits for producers, consumers, and the planet.

By bringing its mission directly to Brussels, Slow Food hopes that Terra Madre Europe becomes a powerful voice for a fairer, greener, and more local food future in the EU.

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