Promote Slow Food Avoid Fast Food

Varanasi, December 10, 2009: Institute of Agricultural Science, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) celebrated “Terra Madre” Day to popularize the concept of Slow Food here on Thursday. BHU is one of the 2000 “Terra Madre” Community Food Centers.

Slow food celebrates “Terra Madre” Day around the world, on December 10 every year. Slow food was founded in 1989 to promote the concept of “Good Clean and Fair Food” available locally. To counter the fast growth of ‘Fast Food’, the foundation has got the people together under umbrella of ‘Slow Food’ on December 10, under the banner of the “Terra Madre” Day.

Speaking on the occasion the convener of the programme Prof. Rajesh Singh said there were 100,000 registered members of Slow Food spreading around its 150 member countries.

Give a brief account of Slow Food concept, Professor Singh said slow food promotes access to ‘Good, Clean and Fair Food’ to all people. Such food should be readily available in local market.

He said ‘Good’ means; fresh and flavorsome daily diet which satisfy the sense and is part of local culture; ‘Clean’ means produce the food using the methods that don’t harm environment and human health; and ‘Fair’ means providing fair conditions and compensations for producers and accessible prices for consumers.

“Slow Food works to defend the right to good, clean and fair food for all people and emphasizes that pleasure and responsibility must go hand-in-hand,” he added.

Prof. Singh pointed out the other issues being debated among its members were ; agriculture and food biodiversity, small scale food production; food sovereignty; language; cultural and traditional knowledge; environmentally responsible food production; fair and sustainable food trade.

“It may be noted that during last 100 years we have lost 80 per cent food biodiversity, one third of cattle, sheep, pig and other foods. We have lost 300,000 vegetable species during last century and every 6 hours we are loosing one local vegetable variety”, he remarked.

Porf. Shiv Raj Singh, who was the chief guest at the function, said food is the top most requirement of life and it is directly related with farmers. He shared his experiences about his visit to Italy to participate in the World Slow Food conference.

Dean Professor RP Singh, Professor Saket Kushwaha, Professor Alok Jha, Professor GC Mishra, Dr. Shri Ram Singh, Professor AK Singh, Professor ON Singh, Dr. JP Shashi, Biram Chourasia, RK Chourasia and several other teachers, students and about local 250 farmers participated in the function.

An exhibition of the photographs by Biram Chourasia was organized at lawns of institute to create general awareness. Chourasia also attended the last year Terra Madre meeting held in Italy. The exhibition was inaugurated by Director Professor Shiv Raj Singh.

Photo caption: Professor Rajesh Singh of Institute of Agricultural Science, BHU, delivering a key not address on the occasion of “Terra Madre: Day in Varanasi on December 10, 2009.

Bottom: Biman Chourasia's photo exhibtion

Source: PPP Cell-BHU