Terra Madre (“Mother Earth” in Italian) is an international network of food producers, cooks, students and educators from 150 countries, united by a common goal of global sustainability in food. They are also united by their shared experience at the Terra Madre conference, held biennially in Turin, Italy, by Slow Food International.

The “food communities” of Terra Madre come together across cultures and climates to share innovative solutions and time-honored traditions for keeping small-scale agriculture and sustainable food production alive and well. The event inspires a new framework for conversation about food and sustainability, one in which ideas, strategies, partnerships and alliances prosper.

The next edition of Terra Madre will be October 23-27, 2008, and will include over 700 delegates from the United States, and 6,000 delegates from around the world. Some of those 700 delegates will be attending Slow Food Nation, and will have the opportunity to meet each other over Labor Day weekend, in advance of their travels to Turin.

Slow Food Nation presents a wonderful opportunity for them to engage in a conversation about the US food system, before heading off to the international stage. There, the US delegation can ask itself: where does our food system fit into the larger picture? Slow Food Nation? How about a Slow Food World…?

You can help raise money for youth delegates to attend Terra Madre!

Culinate.com, a food website for those who care about eating better, has begun a Youth Food Movement Campaign which will help to sponsor as many as eight young people to travel Terra Madre. You can help them raise money simply by signing up for their newsletter and encouraging your friends to do the same.