WFTP Day 4 – When I met Carlo Petrini

This was the concluding day of the conference, which was a part of the Expo Milano 2015, Milan’s biggest event of the year. The expo’s theme was “Feeding the Planet, Energy for the Future”, aiming for each presenting country to put forth their sustainable solutions for the future of food and energy. Although I did not get much time to explore many pavilions – apart from being busy with the closing ceremony, the queues to enter were ungodly! – I did not get a very sustainable vibe from the expo. It felt very commercial, with huge glitzy pavilions of various countries, showcasing their cuisine and culture. It definitely wasn’t what I expected. 

View from the entrance to Expo Milano 2015

But the sheer scale of the infrastructure put together for the expo amazed me. They had built an entire mini-metropolis for the purpose of this six-month-long event, including tarmac roads and a two storey semi-permanent building only for restrooms! And after the end of the expo, the entire thing was to be removed COMPLETELY, leaving no trace of the event. It was part of the contract. Even the tarmac roads were to be stripped off and discarded! So much for sustainability…

The sheer size of the Expo and its capacity amazed me!

The closing ceremony of the WFTP conference was graced with speeches by the Mayor of Milan, the Agriculture Minister and the Foreign Minister of Italy! That made me realize just how big and politically important this gathering was, too. In the words of Carlo Petrini, it was the “United Nations of Food”!

Being addressed by the Mayor of Milan at the closing ceremony

After the presentation of the manifesto that was created – a must read – everyone marched to the Slow Food pavilion.

The march was brilliant – gave me goosebumps – over 2,500 members of the global food system marched, chanting “WHO FEEDS THE PLANET? WE FEED THE PLANET!” It felt like an army, ready to fight for the future of food!

The March for the Future of Food extended as far as the eye could see!

When we reached the Slow Food pavilion, it was full of such people, sharing ideas under the lights, sitting around planters of cabbages, kale and corn, as they exchanged thoughts.

As we made our way through the pavilion to get some Slow Wine, we met the man himself – Mr. Carlo Petrini.

Carlo Petrini was so warm and genuinely happy, as he asked us about our experience at WFTP

Carlo Petrini is undoubtedly a legend in today’s move towards a sustainable future. The Father of the Slow Food movement, he is a personality that we study about in university! And I had the privilege of meeting him!! After the closing ceremony, he was in the pavilion, speaking to participants and delegates, asking how they enjoyed the conference or congratulating them on their contributions at the meetings.  When we met him, he told us, "Each and every one of you here is doing commendable work. And the purpose of this network is for you to know you are not alone. I want you to grow closer, and rely on each other, work together, share ideas. That is how we will feed the planet. That is how we will have a better future."

Then he pointed out to the crowd in the pavilion full of conference delegates and participants, and said, "This. This is the future. They are the future." And there I was, standing amongst them all. I was standing in a pavilion full of future changers! A pretty amazing feeling.

The future changers

To think that in just three decades, Carlo Petrini has transformed his idea, his vision into a reality, and that the idea has brought together and connected so many thousands of people, letting them know they are not alone. And still, he is so warm and so humble. I am so honored that I got to meet such a legend in the flesh!

To think we study about this personality and his work at university, and I got to meet him in person!

Later in the evening we said our bittersweet goodbyes to the friends we had made, many of whom we would not meet again before we left for home the next day. We exchanged hugs and contacts. Finally we ended the night in another impromptu dance party as some delegates plugged in their phones and played some international tunes. There was a feeling of oneness among everyone there that evening. Many of us had never met in the course of the four days, but we all still felt connected as we danced together. No one was quite ready to go home yet.

But of course that wasn’t REALLY the end of it. Actually, just the beginning...

In fact, currently Mr. Carlo Petrini, many of the WFTP delegates, and thousands of others are gathering right here in India, in the northeastern state of Meghalaya, for the Indigenous Terra Madre. ITM is a gathering of Indigenous peoples from across the globe, who will meet to share their indigenous food practices, and build on ways to preserve and promote them. Slow Food is hosting it in association with the Indian organization called NESFAS. Although I won't be there myself, many of my new Slow Food friends will be, and I can’t wait to see and hear from them about the exciting things that happen there!