The Terra Madre food event has been organised by Slow Food International which is an eco-gastronomic movement that promotes good food that is locally produced where possible. Slow Food International is active in 129 countries and has over 80,000 members world-wide.
The centrepiece of Terra Madre is a world-class one day food policy conference on September with up to 50 workshops and demonstrations at Waterford Institute of Technology. Irish President Mary McAleese will address delegates during the conference and Michelle Gildernew MP MLA, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development will speak on issues affecting Northern Ireland.
Terra Madre is an all-island food policy event looking at many issues such as labelling, public procurement, retailing and importing. The aim of the event is to try and encourage the development of policies that would help sustainable food production in Ireland.
Speaking on behalf of the YFCU, Diane Smyth said;
"I am delighted to have had the opportunity to attend this special lunch at Nick's Warehouse where we were able to sample local produce and learn more about the Terra Madre event and Slow Food International. This is an important conference for all those involved in the food chain and, in particular, we need to be aware how to promote food sustainability effectively".
Further information on Terra Madre can be obtained at http://terramadreireland.com