Slow Food Goes Brussels: 2023 policy highlights and upcoming EU parliament elections

How can we transition our local food system? Can grassroots projects influence policy on a higher level? What are key elements for a successful community initiative? In today's episode I am going to tell you some stories of change. Stories of impactful grassroots initiatives that are boosting food system transition in different aspects.   A couple of weeks ago I was in Italy, in Cella Monte, for the project Shared Green Deal. A European project which aims to study from a social perspective the implementation of the Green Deal on a local level in different European countries. I have interviewed the project coordinators of the different grassroots initiatives, with the goal of learning more about their projects but also to see how European policies are impacting their local realities and how their projects can influence policy.  Host and production: Valentina Gritti Guests: Costanza Guazzo and Luca Carisio (Asfodelo association, Italy), Janneke Bruil and Eduardo Cáceres (Stroomgebied Zuid-Veluwe, The Netherlands), Pelle Bengtsberg (Reformaten, Sweden), Zuzana Kupcová (Klíma ta potrebuje, Slovakia).  More about Shared Green Deal: https://sharedgreendeal.eu/  This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 101036640. The sole responsibility for this content lies with the SHARED GREEN DEAL project and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.

In the past months, farmers have been protesting all over Europe. They're marching and driving tractors through city streets. But sadly, what's happening follows a pattern we see often. A serious protest, born out of real struggles, is being made to seem less important. It's being turned into a fight between farmers and environmentalists, or farmers and the European Union. And some people are using it for their own gain, like trying to win votes or protect their own interests.  Today, we'll talk about why farmers are protesting and with a focus on common grounds and on solving the root problems in our food system. Host & production: Valentina Gritti Guests: Natasha Foote (Freelance agri-food journalist), Jereon Candel (Professor of food and agricultural policy at Wageningen University), Sebastian Mira (Farmer from Slow Food Pays Catalan). Farmers' protest audio's source: the Telegraph video A project by Slow Food Youth Network (SFYN) Financed by the European Union. The contents of this podcast are the sole responsibility of the author and CINEA is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

How can cooks be of influence? What are practical tips for students to get their friends to take action? How can we generate change from a rural community? And finally, how can YOU get involved with your local food policy? In today's episode we will learn how take action towards a sustainable food future in many ways. We’ll listen to different perspectives and get super practical tips. This podcast is part of a small series dedicated to the Planting the Future challenge, in which we take a deep dive into our food system and its challenges, get inspired to cook up plant-rich meals, learn about agroecology as a solution and get into action! Host & Production: Valentina Gritti Guests: Joris Bijdendijk (Chef at RIJKS® and Wils, Amsterdam), Deeya Bhasin (law student and the Chinese University of Hong Kong), Luisa Véléz (Project manager and Slow Food activist in Ecuador) and Yael Pantzer (SF International). Post-production & music: Leonardo Prieto Dorantes Join our Telegram group: https://t.me/+xSzaZeIyCUM1NjJk  --> Take action and join Slow Food Youth Network !

In today's episode we will learn what agroecology is, how it applies to agriculture, to fishing and regenerative animal farming and we will also get some practical tips on how we can find agroecological products and be part of the change... This podcast is part of a small series dedicated to the Planting the Future challenge (https://plantingthefuture.slowfood.com/)  Host and production: Valentina Gritti Guests: Moreen Ankunda (Slow Food Uganda), Matheus Sborgia (Regenerative Cattle Farmer at Terras Caipora), Didier Gascuel (Researcher and Professor of Marine Ecology at Institut Agro), Richard McCarthy (President of the World Farmers Markets Coalition). Post-production and music: Leonardo Prieto    Dive deeper into the topic of animal farming with this episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1V3RasNm2aky7QCtw8HXYk  Join our Telegram group: https://t.me/+xSzaZeIyCUM1NjJk  A project by Slow Food Youth Network

What’s the difference between beans and pulses? Is it bad to eat canned beans? How is Polish independence linked to the beans from the town of Lamim in Brazil?  This episode is part of a small series dedicated to the Planting the Future Challenge, in which we take a deep dive into our food system and its challenges, get inspired to cook up plant-rich meals, learn about agroecology as a solution and get into action! For more information on the challenge and to sign up, visit www.plantingthefuture.slowfood.com Guests: Nicolas Carton (Researcher & Global Bean Project Coordinator), Lucas Monteiro Mourão (Slow Food Brazil Activist) and Amaliah (Educator and Slow Food Activist in Indonesia). Host & Production: Valentina Gritti Post-Production & Music: Leonardo Prieto Dorantes Useful links: - The Global Bean Project: www.globalbean.eu - Information sheet about cooking dry pulses: https://www.globalbean.eu/publications/cooking-pulses-dry-seeds/  - Read more about the Polish Eagle bean: https://www.slowfood.com/blog-and-news/polish-eagle-beans-a-pulse-beating-like-a-warm-heart-across-continents/  - Tempeh in the Ark of Taste: https://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/en/ark-of-taste-slow-food/benguk-tempeh-besengek-2/  Finally, join our Telegram group for feedback, questions and advice: https://t.me/+xSzaZeIyCUM1NjJk 

Is there such a thing as an ideal diet? Is there a place for animal proteins in a climate friendly diet? How can we effectively change the way we eat and make sure this becomes a new habit that persists in time?  This podcast is part of a small series dedicated to the Planting the Future Challenge, in which we take a deep dive into our food system and its challenges, get inspired to cook up plant-rich meals, learn about agroecology as a solution and get into action! For more information on the challenge and to sign up, visit www.plantingthefuture.slowfood.com Guests: Francesco Scaglia (Culinary lead at EAT foundation), Dana Smith (campaign director at Meatless Monday), Becky Ramsing (Senior Program Officer at John Hopkins Center for a Livable Future), Liesbeth Velema (Behaviour change expert at Voedingscentrum). Host and production: Valentina Gritti Post-production & music: Leonardo Prieto For feedback and questions join the podcast Telegram group: https://t.me/slowfoodthepodcast  A project by the Slow Food Youth Network (SFYN)

Last podcast of the year: a great way to catch up with European advocacy highlights of 2023 and what to expect in 2024! Between 6–9 June 2024, millions of Europeans will participate in shaping the future of European democracy on the occasion of the European elections. It is a unique moment when people of 28 European countries collectively decide on the future of the European Union. Why does it matter from the food movement point of view?  Host: Valentina Gritti Guests: Madeleine Coste, Slow Food Advocacy Director               Jannie Vestergaard, Slow Food international councillor for the Nordic Countries   If you want to know more about the Good Food Good Farming campaign, you can read this article. Find out more about Slow Food in the Nordic Countries and their initiatives on the website https://slowfoodnordic.com/     You can follow @SlowFoodEurope on twitter to be updated on European Advocacy... and join our Telegram group to be part of the Podcast community! https://t.me/+xSzaZeIyCUM1NjJk   Financed by the European Union. The contents of this podcast are the sole responsibility of the author and CINEA is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

COP 28 has just begun. The attention of all those who care about the climate crisis and work to influence governments and institutions to adopt effective mitigation and adaptation measures have their eyes on Dubai. It is the first COP held since the full release of the latest update in March 2023 of the 6th Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (the IPCC). This report summarises and synthesises the most up-to-date climate science and provides the best scientific basis to set climate policy. Today I am delighted to host two very special guests to discuss some updates from COP 28 with a special eye on how food systems are driving the climate crises and what solutions are on the table.  Host: Valentina Gritti Guests: Raj Patel is a British Indian academic, journalist, activist and writer. Slow Food President Edward Mukiibi is also with us to dialogue with him. Post-production: Jonathan Remy  Music: Leonardo Prieto Dorantes Link to IPES report "From Plate to Planet": https://www.ipes-food.org/pages/platetoplanet  Follow @SlowFoodEurope on twitter! And join our Telegram group: https://t.me/+xSzaZeIyCUM1NjJk   Financed by the European Union. The contents of this podcast are the sole responsibility of the author and CINEA is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.  

Why is it important to be activists? Why shall we raise our voices before COP28? How can we live in a more climate friendly way? Does it make sense to talk about the climate crises now, while so many horrors are happening around the world?  In this episode I will have a conversation with Elena Lucchiari, the Flash COP campaign manager at Slow Food Youth Network. Elena is a young Italian activist with a background in international development studies. The second guest of today is Shane Holland, Executive Chairman of Slow Food in the UK. Shane is a food writer, a university lecturer, he has a broad knowledge on the COP and he was also actively involved in COP26 in Glasgow. Please stick until the end because in the last part of the podcast we collected a few inputs from our podcast community with practical tips on how to live in a more climate friendly way…  Host & production: Valentina Gritti Guests: Elena Lucchiari, Slow Food Youth Network;               Shane Holland, Slow Food in the UK With contributions from: Giorgio Brizio, Maria Geuze and Samanta Fabbris Music: Leonardo Prieto Dorantes Learn more about the Flash COP campaign with the campaign toolkits: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_1wcg0lXHr1SD7mi9Ajx_UYlEnEX3eQR?usp=drive_link  Email Elena for more information at [email protected] A project by the Slow Food Youth Network (SFYN)  

We are going to focus our conversation on Greenwashing: what is it exactly? Who is behind it? How does it work and what can we do to face it?   I am delighted to carry out today's discussion with two experts on the topic of Greenwashing. Hazel Healy is DeSmog's UK Editor. She is also a freelance writer and broadcaster specializing in stories about food justice, climate and migration. Hazel recently published together with Rachel Sherrington the article “A Guide to Six Greenwashing Terms Big Ag Is Bringing to COP28” on DeSmog, independent, investigative website.  The second guest of today is Kavya Chowdhry. Kavya is from India and works as a researcher with ETC, the Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration. ETC Group is a small, international, research and action collective committed to social and environmental justice, human rights and the defense of just and ecological agri-food systems and the web of life. Kavya is co-author of the report "Food Barons 2022. Crisis Profiteering, Digitalization and Shifting Power" together with Hope Shand and Kathy Jo Wetter. Host: Valentina Gritti Guests: Hazel Healy from De Smog and Kavya Chowdhry, ETC. Post-production: Jonathan Remy Music: Leonardo Prieto Dorantes Follow @SlowFoodEurope on twitter! And join our Telegram group: https://t.me/+xSzaZeIyCUM1NjJk   Financed by the European Union. The contents of this podcast are the sole responsibility of the author and CINEA is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. A project by Slow Food Youth Network (SFYN)