Slow Food and FAO announce new partnership

Last week, two international food organisations, both with headquarters in Italy, agreed to join forces. On May 15th, the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and our partners Slow Food announced a decision to work together to promote more inclusive food and agriculture systems at local, national and international levels.

The organisations will develop a series of joint actions designed to improve the livelihoods of smallholders, enhance conservation and use of biodiversity, reduce food losses and food waste, and improve animal welfare. They will also highlight the value of local foods and neglected food crops.

The activities will mainly involve joint advocacy campaigns, strengthening local, regional and global networks. According to the FAO website, the organisations will work together to facilitate market access for smallholders through strengthened producers’ organisations and cooperatives.

It is hoped the partnership will help to protect traditional food products, and promote culinary traditions and the cultural heritage of rural communities.

Director-General José Graziano da Silva said: “Slow Food and FAO share the same vision of a sustainable and hunger-free world, safeguarding biodiversity for future generations. Today’s agreement, providing for a number of important joint initiatives, brings us a step closer to that objective.”

Slow Food, President Carlo Petrini said: “Collaboration between FAO and Slow Food stems from our common purpose in promoting the wealth of local gastronomic traditions, in the defence of food biodiversity and in support of smallholder farmers and producers.”

The agreement consists of a three-year Memorandum of Agreement.

Read more here: http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/176076/icode/