The Italian gastronome, journalist, and activist Carlo Petrini has died at the age of 76 in his hometown of Bra (Piedmont) after a long illness. With him, the international food, wine, and environmental movement loses one of its most influential voices – a pioneer who never understood food and wine merely as consumption, but as a cultural, political, and ecological expression.

Born in 1949 in Bra, Petrini founded the organization Arcigola in 1986, which later evolved into "Slow Food." What began as a protest against the increasing industrialization of food culture developed under his leadership into a global movement. In 1989, delegates from more than 20 countries signed the Slow Food Manifesto in Paris. Petrini was elected president and remained the face of the organization until 2022.

He also understood wine culture as part of a sustainable food system. With the initiative Slow Wine, he advocated for artisanal winemakers, the preservation of regional traditions, and environmentally friendly viticulture. The eponymous wine guide became an important reference for sustainable wine culture. Since 2021, the "Slow Wine Fair" has also been held in Bologna, quickly becoming a central meeting point for the sustainably oriented wine industry.

His guiding principle of a diet that must be "good, clean, and fair" made "Slow Food" known far beyond gastronomy. Petrini connected enjoyment with responsibility and shaped a new understanding: food should not only taste good but also respect the environment, producers, and cultural diversity. Under Petrini, Slow Food grew into a network in more than 160 countries.

Even after stepping down as president, Petrini remained connected to the movement. At the World Congress in 2022, he himself urged for a generational change. His successor was the Ugandan agricultural activist Edward Mukiibi.

(ru – Image: Slow Food)