Bacolod City is hosting the first ever Terra Madre Asia and Pacific, a global celebration of food, culture, and sustainability, at the Capitol Park and Lagoon in Bacolod City, November 19–23.
“It’s time for Asia and the Pacific to take center stage in the global sustainable food conversation”, Ramon “Chin Chin” Uy Jr., Slow Food Councilor for Southeast Asia, said on Sunday, June 1.
Terra Madre, the world-renowned biennial event held in Turin, Italy, founded by Slow Food, is making a historic leap in 2025 with its first-ever regional gathering in Asia and the Pacific, Uy said.
Uy said the five-day event, with the theme “From Soil to Sea: A Slow Food Journey Through Tastes and Traditions,” brings together farmers, fishers, cooks, youth, food communities, Indigenous leaders, researchers, and cultural advocates to celebrate biodiversity and co-create sustainable food systems rooted in tradition, fairness, and environmental care.
The gathering solidifies Bacolod City’s role as the newly designated Slow Food International Hub for Asia Pacific and marks the evolution of successful Terra Madre Visayas events hosted in Bacolod in 2023 and 2024, he said.
“This is a turning point not just for Slow Food in the Philippines, but for the entire region. Terra Madre Asia and Pacific is a space where grassroots wisdom can shape policy, tradition can spark innovation, and the lived experiences of communities take their rightful place in shaping our global food future,” Uy said.
Modeled after Terra Madre Salone del Gusto in Turin, Italy, Slow Food’s global biennial summit, Uy said this regional edition aims to:
• Showcase the Philippines’ gastronomy, food biodiversity, and cultural heritage;
• Foster cross-border collaboration among food producers, chefs, youth, and Indigenous communities;
• Build public awareness around ethical foodways, climate resilience, and sustainable agriculture; and
• Reinforce the Department of Tourism’s commitment to positioning the Philippines as a global gastronomy destination.
The Slow Food Terra Madre Asia and Pacific is a project in collaboration with Congressman-elect Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, the Bacolod City government led by Mayor-elect Greg Gasataya, the Negros Occidental provincial government led by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Department of Tourism led by Sec. Christina Garcia Frasco, Department of Agriculture led by Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.;
Department of Trade and Industry led by Sec. Cristina Roque, Third District Representative-elect Javier Miguel Benitez, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Francisco Benitez, Senator Loren Legarda, Plus63 Design Co., Slow Food International and the Slow Food Community in Negros, a press release from the organizers said.
It said organizations, farmers, fishers, chefs, community leaders, researchers, and advocates interested in participating may email nichole@slowfoodnegros.org for more information on booth reservations and delegate nominations. *