Rural Development: Lessons in Economics from Periphery to Centre
A discussion of agriculture and development to be held in Pollenzo
on October 14, organized by the University of Turin and the University
of Gastronomic Sciences on the occasion of World Food Day
On October 14, 2005, from 9am to 1pm, the conference “Rural Development: Lessons in Economics from Periphery to Centre” will
be held in the conference hall of the Agenzia di Pollenzo. The
conference has been organized by the University of Gastronomic Sciences
of Pollenzo and Colorno and the University of Turin, in collaboration
with the Slow Food Studies and Research Center on the occasion of World Food Day.
World Food Day, October 16, commemorates the anniversary of the 1945 founding of FAO, the United Nations agency concerned with food and agriculture. The theme of World Food Day 2005 is “Agriculture and intercultural dialogue”,
and the intention is to recognize the contribution offered by diverse
cultures to global agriculture and to confirm that an open dialogue
between cultures is a fundamental prerequisite in advancing the fight
against hunger and environmental degradation.
The conference in Pollenzo will deal with the theme from an economic
perspective, connecting it to rural development, thanks to the presence
of representatives from farmers’ organizations in the south of the
world: Valter Rodriguez Vargas of APPTA (AsociaciÛn Pequeños Productores de Talamanca) in Costa Rica, Samuel Karanja Muhunyu of NECOFA (Network for Ecofarming in Africa) in Kenya and Maya Yani from the association NAVDANYA in India.
The general themes will be outlined by three speakers: Enrico Luzzati of the University of Turin, Antonino Colajanni of La Sapienza University in Rome and Eve Crowley of the FAO. The president of Coldiretti Piemonte, Giorgio Ferrero, will examine the concept of rural development and renewed economies from a local perspective.
With the help of an audience comprised of students, teachers, members
of organizations of international cooperation and anyone who cares
about the fate of the planet, the speakers will try to take a small
step towards the acceptance of a new, more complex idea of economics
and development. An idea which has at its heart not money which has as
its only purpose to produce more money, but money that serves to promote the quality of life and of the environment.
For more information:
Slow Food Studies and Research Center
Via Audisio, 8
12042 Bra (Cn)
+39 0172 436911
centrostudi@slowfood.it