ÖBROOKLYN, May 3 — Dozens of speakers from around the world will present perspectives on food security, seed preservation and sovereignty, community engagement, and more at Slow Food USA’s second annual Slow Seed Summit. This virtual gathering from May 13-15 will feature 16 unique sessions that coalesce around daily themes. Keynote addresses will be presented by Slow Food International Vice President Edie Mukiibi, Testbiotech founder Astrid Oesterreicher, and global activist Vandana Shiva. Review the entire session list and purchase tickets here.
“I am particularly excited by how our global Seed Summit provides an opportunity to regenerate our connections to the larger Slow Food themes of climate, health and food justice with something as small and unifying as seeds,” explained Slow Food USA Director of Programs Mara Welton. “I look forward to the deep discussions that will help our network to cultivate good, clean and fair food for all with seeds leading the way.”
On Friday, May 13, the Slow Seed Summit will focus on seed preservation and food security, and examine global efforts in seed preservation from small scale efforts to large community seed library projects. Seed library founders will speak in one panel, and another panel will feature speakers who are harvesting wild seeds for food responsibly from many climates.
Saturday, May 14 will center around seed sovereignty and the ethics of the latest in seed technology. Panel discussions on the co-opting and reframing of regenerative agriculture as well as the threats of corporate seed takeover will take place on this day, as well as a screening of The Seeds of Vandana Shiva.
The summit will close on Sunday, May 15 with a focus on women, seeds and community. This final session of the summit will feature visionaries, advocates and champions of seed rematriation, and celebrate efforts to regenerate community health by growing, protecting and eating seeds.
Saturday and Sunday will also feature readings from authors featured in the series Kinship: Belonging in a World of Relations, produced by the Center for Humans and Nature.
The inaugural Slow Seed Summit in spring 2021 featured two weekends of programming with more than 50 speakers across 18 sessions, which were experienced by 587 attendees. View last year’s summit archive here.
This virtual, international gathering will be one of many global experiences that are part of The Road to Terra Madre, a program heralding the return of Terra Madre Salone del Gusto in Torino, Italy from Sept. 22-26.
The 2022 Slow Seed Summit is sponsored by Cultures of Resistance, FAO in North America and FarmAid. Additional media sponsorship support has been provided by Civil Eats, Foodprint, Food Tank and Heritage Radio Network, which will be documenting select keynote addresses and sessions.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Anna Maria Rumińska
- Anna Mulè
- Astrid Österreicher
- Becky Webster
- Bill McDorman
- Dani Nierenberg
- Daniel Wanjama
- Denisa Livingston
- Edie Mukiibi
- Fatuma Emmad
- Joe Fassler
- Linda Black Elk
- Mara Welton
- Nathan Lou
- Nikki Brighton
- Sara Aly El Sayed
- Shelley Buffalo
- Twilight Greenaway
- Upingakraq Spring Alaska Schreiner
- Vandana Shiva
- Vanessa Black
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Slow Food USA unites the joy of food with the pursuit of justice. We cultivate nationwide programs and a network of local chapters, host educational events and advocacy campaigns, and build solidarity through partnerships. Together, we are dismantling oppressive food systems to achieve good, clean and fair food for all.
Press contact
Media passes to the Slow Seed Summit are available by contacting Director of Communications Brian Solem:
224-623-4508
