The country’s successful bid to host the 2025 Terra Madre Asia Pacific in Bacolod City is expected to put Negros Island on the radar of culinary tourists from across the globe, the Philippine Embassy in Italy said.

Slow Food International earlier announced its plan to host the first Terra Madre Asia Pacific in Bacolod City as part of its series of regional events next year.

“With their rich slow food culture and strong agricultural sector, Bacolod City and Negros are well-positioned to become the ‘Slow Food Capital’ of the Philippines and attract a considerable amount of culinary tourists and advocates of sustainable and organic food and farming from all over the world,” Philippine Ambassador to Italy Neal Imperial said in an interview on Tuesday.

Imperial made the statement after the country participated in the 2024 Terra Madre Salone del Gusto in Italy last month.

For Imperial, this participation alone is a testament to the recognition and importance the Philippines places on food security and sustainable food systems.

“As the world continues to grapple with climate change at the 11th hour, amid the exacerbated climate crises and its devastating impact on food security, the fundamental answer may lie in Terra Madre, and our efforts to respect and heal Mother Earth,” he said.

“The Philippines, for its part, is ready to take on a more prominent and leading role in the slow food movement in Southeast Asia as it stands poised to host the Terra Madre Asia Pacific in 2025.”

The Slow Food in the Philippines booth at the 2024 Terra Madre Salone del Gusto showcased the country’s vibrant culinary heritage, commitment to sustainability, and leadership in the Slow Food movement, particularly by the Slow Food Community Promoting and Preserving Traditional Food of Negros Island.

Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, who declared the opening of the booth, invited the guests to a “salo-salo” (feast), which featured a talk by Chef Rhea Sycip and renowned Filipino bartender Kalel Demetrio

The booth attracted many of the Terra Madre visitors with the wide variety of authentic Filipino cuisine, featuring “Ark of Taste” products from the Philippines like Negros food specialties, such as langka salad, dinuguan and puto, Chicken House inasal, heirloom rice and inanchila, and lechon.

On Sept. 27, Bacolod City was also launched as the “HUB of Slow Food Asia,” with Benitez leading the signing of a memorandum of agreement among Bacolod City, Slow Food International, and Negros Island Community Promoting and Preserving Traditional Food, Inc.

The deal will oversee the development of Slow Food Programs in Negros, which includes the promotion of food education, building networks, hosting of events, and the establishment of a Slow Food International Office in Bacolod City.

This year’s event, which marks 20 years since the first edition, is recognized as the world’s largest gathering dedicated to sustainable food systems and biodiversity.

Slow Food, an organization founded in Italy, has become a global movement of local groups advocating access to good, clean, and fair food. The movement is active in more than 160 countries. (PNA)