Terra Madre Salone del Gusto is a biennial food festival in Turin, Italy, that plays as the Slow Food movement’s essential event. It brings together small-scale producers and food activists from all over the world to celebrate the diversity of food and discuss ways to create a more sustainable food system.

September 2022 saw the participation of five Slow Food Ryukyus members at Terra Madre, where they collaborated with members from Asia and the Pacific to present the “Indigenous Peoples’ Plate of Legumes and Grains” to an international audience. The Ryukyu cuisine on the plate was a traditional meal preped by a member of the Miyako Islands: “Stew of Ffumami (black azuki beans), Manju (papaya), and Kubu (kelp)”.

Members of the Asia Pacific Indigenous Peoples Network, which has been developing relationships and learning together virtually since 2020, had the opportunity to gather in person to demonstrate our food, taste together, and share ideas. It was an invaluable opportunity to learn about and better appreciate one other’s food cultures.