Slow Food, the podcast

Today’s conversation is part of some live interviews I recorded at Terra Madre in September. Terra Madre is the biggest event of the Slow Food movement, which takes place in Turin, Italy, every two years and brings together food activists from all over the globe. I had the privilege of recording the upcoming interviews together with Andrew Valenti, regenerative gardener, community builder, and podcast host. You will now listen to our conversation with Slow Food International president Edward Mukiibi. Edward is based in Uganda, and before becoming the leader of a global movement, he was (and he still is) an agroecological farmer and agronomist. This Terra Madre edition was particularly emotionally significant for him, because it was the first one without the Slow Food founder Carlo Petrini, who unfortunately passed away last May. Edward takes us through some of his personal memories from his childhood and more recent years. We are recording this conversation in a beautiful ancient room of the Circolo dei Lettori in Turin city center, inside a historical building built between the 1600 and 1700.

Taking Edward back to his childhood, we ask him what is the first crop he remembers planting himself.

Hosts: Valentina Gritti and Andrew Valenti
Guest: Edward Mukiibi, president of Slow Food International

A project by Slow Food Youth Network.

This episode was co-funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the project "Rural Voices 2030. Engaging young rural European citizens in a gender responsive approach to soil protection" and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

What is a coffee cupping? What is the difference between green, washed and fermented coffee? Why does the same coffee taste different in Ethiopia and in Italy?

Today I am going to take you back to World Of Coffee in Brussels, one of the most important events around specialty coffee in Europe, which took place last June. I went there to meet with some coffee farmers and roasters from the Slow Food Coffee Coalition, but also to understand more about the world of specialty coffee. For those of you who don’t know it, the Slow Food Coffee Coalition is an international, open, and collaborative network that brings together everyone involved in the coffee supply chain. Of course promoting good, clean and fair coffee.

So, grab your coffee cup and follow me to the event!

Host & Production: Valentina Gritti
Guests: Fitsum Bekere, Cesar Marino, Christian Reyes, Elio Leite, Sandro Bonacchi, Fernando Patiño, Iordanis Chrysafidis and Carlo Cortinovis
Music: Leonardo Prieto

Find out more about the Slow Food Coffee Coalition here: https://www.slowfood.com/thematic-network/coffee-coalition/

A project by Slow Food Youth Network (SFYN)

How do streaming platforms and media shape food cultures at scale? Who controls the narrative of what “good food” looks like? Is media marketing always fair when it comes to sustainable food brands?

Today we are going to talk about media, television and streaming platforms with Luca Antioniazzi. Luca is researcher and teacher on audiovisual culture and communication at the University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo, Italy. His background ranges from film preservation, to cultural policies, and food documentaries. Are you what you stream or you stream what you are? Let’s discuss this with Luca.

Host & production: Valentina Gritti
Guest: Luca Antoniazzi
Music: Leonardo Prieto

Useful links:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RtXSon0yMw (Tampopo)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ldcayb6kGaQ (La Grande Abbuffata)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQV6CijIzrc (The Bear)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKKCGtoIOVY (Taste of Things)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9TUuZ62xgg (Inglorious Bastards, scene)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBmkI4jlaIo (Goodfellas, scene)
• Food documentaries: https://www.imdb.com/interest/in0000063/

A project by Slow Food Youth Network (SFYN)

What does the smell of fresh bread have to do with selling a house? Why does vanilla make things taste sweeter? And when did the food industry start using scent as a tool to shape what we want, before we even take a bite?

Today we are diving into something you probably experience every single day without realising it: the invisible world of food smells and how they are used to influence your choices, your emotions, and your appetite. My guest is Elena Mancioppi, a philosopher and researcher at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy, specialising in the aesthetics of smell, olfactory marketing, and the sociopolitical dimensions of food aromas. Her work sits at the crossroads of philosophy, perception, and food politics. And it might just change the way you walk through a supermarket. Are you ready to smell things differently?

Host & production: Valentina Gritti
Guest: Elena Mancioppi
Music: Leonardo Prieto

Useful links:
Osmospheres, Mimesis International: https://mimesisinternational.com/osmospheres-smell-atmosphere-food-2/
L'Olfattivo, Edizioni ETS: https://www.edizioniets.com/scheda.asp?n=9788846763136
The Senses of Smell: Scents, Odors and Aromatic Spaces, Rivista di Estetica: https://journals.openedition.org/estetica/8190
Osmospheric Dwelling: Smell, Smell, Food, Gender and Atmospheres, Espes: https://zenodo.org/records/7489494
Smell Aesthetics, UNISG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw1yohcLbRQ
Towards a Sociopolitical Aesthetics of Smell, Rivista di Estetica: https://journals.openedition.org/estetica/8383?lang=en
Atmospheres, Art, and Aesthetics: A Conversation, Espes: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59ac89042994caa10199036a/t/66df1ada3a5b080f32dbd329/1725897434627/ESPES_interview.pdf
Omosfere: Estetiche olfattive dell’abitare l’aria, Smell Magazine: https://smellmagazine.it/omosfere-estetiche-olfattive-dellabitare-laria/02/02/2023/

A project by Slow Food Youth Network (SFYN).

When did sweet become too sweet? How does sugar reflect a collective craving? And what does this reveal about contemporary food society?

Today we are going to immerse ourselves into an indulgent discussion. We will speculate with philosopher and researcher Maddalena Borsato about how sweetness is shaping our society and what sugar and the need for something sweet actually means to us. Maddalena is a researcher in the field of philosophy and aesthetics at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy. At the same time she has attended pastry school and she runs a blog called Aristotele, where she raises philosophical questions starting from a sweet recipe. Are you already craving something sweet? Because I do! So let’s start our discussion with Maddalena.

Host: Valentina Gritti
Guest: Maddalena Borsato
Production: Klets.media

A project by Slow Food Youth Network

How is the issue of food waste seen from an EU perspective? How does the legislative work impact member states and consumers? What are tricks on how to reduce food waste at home?

Today we talk about food waste reduction. In fact last weekend Slow Food Youth Network celebrated the 10th anniversary of World Disco Soup Day, our biggest campaign to raise awareness on the importance of food waste reduction. You can see more details on the campaign on the Slow Food Youth Network social media. Thousands of activists from restaurants to communities have joined World Disco Soup Day, But policy makers also have a key role in food waste reduction. This is why we had a conversation with Zoe Caramitsou-Tzira, with a focus on how this issue is tackled by the European Union. Zoe is policy officer at DG Health and Food Safety, and her role in particular is to look at Food Waste, and Food Information to Consumers from the European Commission.

Host and production: Valentina Gritti
Guest: Zoe Caramitsou-Tzira (policy officer at DG Health and Food Safety)

Useful links:

• EU platform on Food Losses and Waste: https://food.ec.europa.eu/food-safety/food-waste/eu-actions-against-food-waste/eu-platform-food-losses-and-food-waste_en
• EU Hub: https://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/food_waste/eu-food-loss-waste-prevention-hub/about
• Toolkit to reduce consumer food waste: https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/bioeconomy/reduce-food-waste_en
• Activities around the international day: https://food.ec.europa.eu/food-safety/food-waste/international-day-awareness-food-loss-and-waste_en

A project by Slow Food Youth Network (SFYN)

How can we combine science, art and technology to build a more sustainable food system? How can artificial intelligence be used in this process? Is art threatened by AI or can technology be used as a tool to achieve something out of the ordinary?

The episode of today is mind-blowing. I have interviewed a lot of activists in the past and seen so many initiatives, but if I can be totally open to you: this time I experienced something completely out of the ordinary. I am talking about Hungry Eco-Cities. Hungry Eco-cities combine science, technology, and the arts, to explore how digital technologies & applications can lead in turn to reduced food waste, more sustainable value chains, eco-friendly attitudes, and more ethical food consumption. I had the chance to interview in person in Rotterdam Lija Groenewoud van Vliet, Creative Director at In4Art and co-coördinator Hungry EcoCities, as well as some of the artists involved in the project.

Host & Production: Valentina Gritti
Guests: Lija Groenewoud van Vliet (in4art), Laila Snevere (Phygital Seasoning), Jeroen Van Der Most (Vegetable Vendetta), Nicolas Rotta and InstaGreen (Re-Source Society)

Useful links:

- Hungry Ecocities: https://starts.eu/hungryecocities/
- HEClab platform: https://heclab.eu/landing-page

This episode is part of the podcast series "Tomorrow's Table: rethinking food as we know it" co-produced by Slow Food Youth Network and ICONS for the EU-funded CLEVERFOOD project.

What is a practical way to implement artificial intelligence in food? Which content and engagement strategy is effective for social media algorithms? How can we avoid that all the information we receive becomes overwhelming?

Today we talk about food and algorithms, with Massimiliano Carraro (from Behavix) and two sustainable lifestyle influencers: Daria, from @DariaAlNaturale_, and Shannen from @_greengal. We will look into how artificial intelligence and algorithms can be used in the fields of food waste reduction, but also in content creation and engagement.

This podcast is part of the series “Tomorrow’s Table, Rethinking Food As We Know It”, which weaves together the experiences and insights of projects and living labs within the FOOD 2030 Network launched by Cleverfood. Cleverfood is a European project aimed at fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and systemic change in the food sector. Behavix is also part of the FOOD 2030 Network.

Host & post-production: Valentina Gritti
Co-host: Lisa Grosjean (Beinfluence)
Guests: Massimiliano Carraro (Behavix), Daria Falcone (@dariaalnaturale_), Shannen Haley (@_greengal).

This episode is part of the podcast series "Tomorrow's Table: rethinking food as we know it" co-produced by Slow Food Youth Network and ICONS for the EU-funded CLEVERFOOD project.

Today we are meeting two super inspiring women: Lia Carlucci (founder and CEO of the Food Campus Berlin) and Janka Alwon, influencer and food blogger, also Known as Jankalicious.

This podcast is part of the series “Tomorrow’s Table, Rethinking Food As We Know It”, which weaves together the experiences and insights of projects and living labs within the FOOD 2030 Network launched by Cleverfood. Cleverfood is a European project aimed at fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and systemic change in the food sector. Food Campus Berlin is also part of the FOOD 2030 Network.

Host & producer: Valentina Gritti
Guests: Lia Carlucci (Food Campus Berlin) and Janka Alwon (@jankalicious_)
Music: Leonardo Prieto

More about Food Campus Berlin: https://www.foodcampus.berlin/?lang=en
Planetary Health Diet: https://eatforum.org/eat-lancet/the-planetary-health-diet/
Janka's blog: https://www.jankas.blog/ and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jankalicious_/?hl=en

This episode is part of the podcast series "Tomorrow's Table: rethinking food as we know it" co-produced by Slow Food Youth Network and ICONS for the EU-funded CLEVERFOOD project.

Can fermentation improve plant-based foods? What happens during fermentation from a food chemistry perspective? What are concrete health benefits of eating fermented foods?

Today I am at the faculty of bioengineering in Leuven, Belgium, to interview professor and researcher Christophe Courtin. Christophe knows everything about the chemistry of fermentation. He has been researching fermented cereals for 15 years and he is now coordinating the project HealthFerm (we will tell you more about this in the course of the episode). Helthferm is part of the FOOD 2030 network, under the CLEVERFOOD project. From farmers and chefs to activists and everyday eaters, CLEVERFOOD is about bringing everyone into the conversation on building a fairer, healthier and more sustainable food system for the future.

Host: Valentina Gritti
Guest: Christophe Courtin

Links:

• The link to the first paper on the HealthFerm Citizen Science project: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41538-026-00725-7
• The link to the HealthFerm website: http://www.healthferm.eu/

This episode is part of the podcast series "Tomorrow's Table: rethinking food as we know it" co-produced by Slow Food Youth Network and ICONS for the EU-funded CLEVERFOOD project.
Post-production: Klets.media

Have you ever had a “WOW moment” while being in nature? What is the first step you can take to get connected to your local food scene? Can everyone start gardening?

Today we kick off the year with a great conversation with Andrew Valenti (@andrewvalenti.av): regenerative gardener, artist, musician, and world traveler. We are going to talk about how Andrew managed to build a home gardeners community around him, but we will also touch upon the spiritual connection with nature and add some practical tips on how to start gardening yourself. Ready to get inspired?

Host and producer: Valentina Gritti
Guest: Andrew Valenti
Music: Leonardo Prieto

Listen to the new podcast show of Andrew: Gardens of Earthly Delight
Find more tips on how to start gardening on Slow Food, The Podcast past episode "Green thumbs: from school gardens to your own balcony! With the Frenchie Gardener"
Find out more about the Slow Food Farms on https://www.slowfood.com/slow-food-farms/

A project by Slow Food Youth Network (SFYN)

What are some tips to spot the latest food trends? What is new in the food scene around the world? Are these trends supporting a shift towards a more sustainable food system? Today I am recording a live conversation with Gijsbregt Brouwer, founder of De Buik and inspiring food trend watcher in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. This is a co-production between Slow Food, The Podcast and Bekt Lekker, Gijsbregt's podcast.

Hosts and guests: Valentina Gritti and Gijsbregt Brouwer
Production: Klets Media

With inputs from: Chef Jam Melchor from The Philippines, Oguniiyi Akinade and Eniola Okeola from Nigeria, Ariinda Ronald from Uganda, Roger Maldonado from Bolivia, Lea Balcerzak from Poland and Nahuel Burracco from the Pollenzo Food Lab, at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy.

A project by Slow Food Youth Network(SFYN)

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Are food systems changed bottom up or top down? How do diplomacy and negotiations on a high political level work? What is an effective way to bridge practice and policy?

Today we discuss with diplomat Pio Wennubst and SFYN executive director Jorrit Kiewik, how policies and negotiations but also bottom-up approaches can change our food systems. What do Pio and Jorrit have in common? Apart from the faith in diplomacy and love for food, they were connected through Bites of Transfoodmation: an initiative that brings together young motivated individuals to create a community of practice and change the future of our food systems. Jorrit was one of the youth joining the initiative and Pio, founded BOT, via the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Read the Bites of Transfoodmation manifesto here: https://transfoodmation.com/bites-of-transfoodmation/manifesto/

Find here the CFS recommendations on promoting youth engagement and employment in agriculture and food systems for food security and nutrition:
https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/cfs/Docs2122/Youth/CFS_Policy_Recs_Youth_FInal_Agreed_Version_July2022.pdf

A project by SFYN (Slow Food Youth Network)

**Support our podcast by giving us a good rating on your favourite podcasting platform!

How can storytelling be fair? Can food become the means to tell a much bigger story? What shall we consider when talking about people from other cultures and indigenous peoples communities?

Today, we will listen to the story of Gabriella, a student at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo (UNISG), Italy. Who had a life-changing experience with the Juruna indigenous community in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon. From this experience onwards she decided that she wants to invest her time in storytelling as a means to talk about indigenous food movements. In the course of this episode we will also listen to Tunda Lepore, an inspiring Maasai leader, and Slow Food International Counselor for Indigenous Peoples.

Host & Production: Valentina Gritti
Guests: Gabriella Bruno (UNISG student) and Tunda Lepore (SFI counselor for indigenous peoples, maasai)

Read the digital magazines of Gabriella here: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/50067804e0.html and https://heyzine.com/flip-book/f3dae12021.html#page/1

Find out more about Fermolution here: https://slowfoodyouthnetwork.org/news/fermolution-a-revolution-through-ferments/

A project by Slow Food Youth Network (SFYN)

Does food make us humans? What is a balanced meal in indigenous cosmologies? Do you know what is the favourite meal of people close to you and could you recreate it?

Grab your favourite drink, tea, coffee, or hot chocolate, and settle in. Today, we’re diving deep into food, culture, health and identity with a very special guest. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Elena Fusar Poli, researcher and lecturer in food anthropology at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy. Elena takes us into her fieldwork with indigenous communities in Oaxaca, uncovering powerful insights about how food shapes who we are. This is not just a conversation about eating: it’s about belonging, memory, and meaning. So, get cozy, and let’s begin this fascinating journey together.

Host & Production: Valentina Gritti
Guest: Elena Fusar Poli (researcher and lecturer in food anthropology at UNISG)
With interventions of Alessandra Silva, Rachael Olajumoke and @tantamvv.
Music: Leonardo Prieto

A project by Slow Food Youth Network (SFYN)

We all drink it, but its journey is as clear as the beverage itself: Coffee.How can we make its chain shorter? What does it look like when you start a small scale coffee roastery? How does the origin of the coffee impact its taste? How is the price of coffee regulated on an international level?

Today we will talk about coffee. In particular we will have a nice conversation with Francesco Anastasi. Francesco graduated at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo Italy in 2014, where we also got to know each other (I studied at UNISG myself). After working for 7 years at Slow Food International, he has founded together with his partner Gabriella, Santaromero, single origin Colombian coffee roastery based in Turin. So pour yourself your favourite brew and let’s get over to Francesco!

Host & Production: Valentina Gritti
Guest: Francesco Anastasi (UNISG alumno and co-founder of Santaromero coffee roastery)
Music: Leonardo Prieto

Chat with us on our Telegram group: https://t.me/slowfoodthepodcast
A project by Slow Food Youth Network (SFYN)

What does the life of a plastic-free shopper look like? Why is plastic in food so concerning? What are some tips to reduce packaging waste?

Today we talk about plastics. In particular we will have a nice chat with Suri, a digital creator also known as @dazingsoul who is a plastic-free shopper and who joined us during our Planting The Future campaign. Suri will give us some tips on how to buy less plastic especially when it comes to food and we will also talk about why we should put effort into it.

Host & production: Valentina Gritti
Guest: Suramy Gomez, @dazingsoul
Music: Leonardo Prieto

A project by Slow Food Youth Network (SFYN)

When describing a kitchen in a western society, one of the first things you’d think of is the fridge. But can we live without refrigerators? Why should we even consider it? What are other ways to preserve food and drinks?

Today we talk about something a bit special regarding a Slow lifestyle: have you ever thought you can live without a refrigerator? Sandro and Emma, in Italy, gave it a try for a period of time. Also Bashir in Karamoja, Uganda has grown up and lives in a community where having a fridge is not really common. Are you curious to get to know their stories and get inspired?

Host and production: Valentina Gritti
Guests: Sandro Donda, Emma Lercari (artists and musicians) and Bashir Ochen (spokesperson of his indigenous pastoralist community in Karamoja, Uganda).
Song Played: "Passo Passo" by Garuda band (the band of Sandro and Emma).
Do you wanna know more about Bashir's story? You can listen to one of our first podcasts with him: "Voices from the roots: Ochen Umar Bashir" https://open.spotify.com/episode/4JsC1dLkPT4FnzLuJWcRC4?si=-TILZbjyQfa_bEWx0kkc7w

Join Planting The Future: https://ig.me/j/AbZhBdCs9GKVkN_i/

A project by Slow Food Youth Network (SFYN)

In this episode of the Slow Food podcast, we talk about modern slavery in the food chain. From exploited seasonal workers in Italy’s tomato fields to the global cacao market, we dig into how injustice hides in plain sight. We hear from Manlio Larotonda, an Italian gastronome and alumnus of the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, who moved to Colombia to start a more just and transparent cacao project. And from Giulia Gianguzza, who works directly with migrant workers in Sicily. This episode isn’t easy, but it’s essential. Understanding where our food comes from means acknowledging the human cost behind it — and doing better. Guests: Manlio Larotonda (cacao Disidente founder and UNISG alumnus) and Giulia Gianguzza (social worker at Sportello Sans Papiers)

Host and production: Valentina Gritti
Music: Leonardo Prieto

Join Planting The Future: https://ig.me/j/AbZhBdCs9GKVkN_i/

A project by Slow Food Youth Network (SFYN)

How can we eat in a sustainable way at home? Do we need to come to compromises when we have small children? Does eating well always mean spending more money? And how can we introduce more plants into our daily meals?

I am very excited to introduce you to the guests of the podcast of today: Chiara and Nicholas, young parents who will share with us how they live in a Slow lifestyle with a daughter of 4 and one about to come and Maria Camila, from @Maca_bites who will give us some practical tips on how to introduce more plants into our meals.

Guests: Chiara Flora Bassignana (researcher at UNISG), Nicholas Panayi (agroecology consultant) and Maca (plant-based diet ambassador)
Host and production: Valentina Gritti
Music: Leonardo Prieto

Useful links:

Follow Nicholas Panayi on @yesroots
And Maca on @Maca_bites
Join Planting the Future: https://ig.me/j/AbZhBdCs9GKVkN_i/

A project by Slow Food Youth Network