Slow Food International, a global movement committed to ensuring good, clean, and fair food for all, is exploring the possibility of establishing an education center in this city, which is being positioned as the hub for slow food in Asia and the Pacific.
As of Thursday, the delegation from Italy led by director general Paolo di Croce started conducting research, holding focus group discussions, and engaging with stakeholders, including farmers, processors, distributors, and chefs, as part of the feasibility study for the project that will run until January next year.
“I see great potential here because Bacolod has a rich culture and an incredible food tradition. This aligns perfectly with what we’ve been doing globally, emphasizing the importance of food because food is life,” di Croce said in a statement released by the City Tourism Office.
He added the project, which aims to raise awareness on sustainable food systems and enhance local food education, could also “improve the local economy, support livelihoods, and serve as a powerful tool to attract more people.”
Being proposed is the creation of an outdoor space dedicated to agro-ecological education, which will feature an educational garden and a community kitchen designed for workshops and seminars.
The visit of the Slow Food International team to Bacolod came after Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez signed a memorandum of agreement with di Croce during the Terra Madre Salone del Gusto held in Turin, Italy, late September.
The collaboration includes the selection of Bacolod as host of the maiden edition of the Terra Madre Asia-Pacific in November 2025 as well as promotion of food education, building networks, hosting of events and establishment of a Slow Food International office in this city.
Earlier this week, the office of Slow Food International for Asia and the Pacific officially opened at May’s Garden in Barangay Pahanocoy.
The facility is owned by the family of Negrense Ramon Uy Jr., councilor of Slow Food International for Southeast Asia. (PNA)
