CARLO PETRINI
A pioneer for nutrition and enjoyment of the future
Like no other he combines theory and practice. His theme: correcting the misguided development of industrialized agriculture and nutrition. His new concept culminated in 1986 in the creation of the organization “Slow Food”, which now has over 100,000 members in a good 150 countries on all continents.
Its aim is nothing less than a revolution in agriculture and food. The credo “good, clean and fair” brings the movement’s claim to the point. A particularly important aspect of Carlo Petrini’s work is the emphasis on taste in discussions about nutrition. He understands it as a cultural, individual and social perception, postulates accordingly a right to pleasure and sees quality as its prerequisite.
For Carlo Petrini, the most important means to achieve all these goals are regionally based and organic farming, the preservation of biodiversity and the appreciation of culinary cultures.
Carlo Petrini is still today the decisive and tireless driving force behind Slow Food. But his activities go far beyond the scope of this organization. This is evidenced, for example, by the creation of the “Salone del Gusto” of the “Università di Scienze Gastronomiche”, the “Cheese” cheese festival in Bra and the “Terra Madre” farmers’ network.
“Carlo Petrini,” writes the jury of the ECKART ACADEMY in its reasons for awarding the prize, “reconciles opposites with his creative dialectic, thus changing our awareness and showing us how we ourselves can create a new and better reality.