Last month, LIFE Grace encouraged sustainable food farming practices and sustainable consumers’ choices at “Terra Madre – Salone del Gusto 2024”, an international fair dedicated to food and sustainability.
On 28th September, at Regione Lazio’s booth, Dr. Miria Catta and Claudio Di Giovannantonio took part in the Meat consumption: an ethical and environmental issue debate, where they discussed new challenges arising from changes in the meat industry in Lazio. Unfortunately, despite the 9000 small extensive breeding farms in Lazio, local production is not given enough recognition, which results in some negative consequences. As grazing lands are getting progressively abandoned by breeders, we are losing the cultural and environmental heritage that they represent. Moreover, consumers are choosing to buy more and more pork products and poultry, which negatively impacts deforestation in the Amazon. In order to oppose these trends, LIFE Grace aims at supporting small breeders and their products – especially horse, sheep and goat meat -, and their role as biodiversity stewards.
On 29th October, a seminar titled “The future of shepherds and pastures” platformed small breeders and agribusiness owners from different parts of Italy, who talked about their first-hand experience and challenges in their field of work. Claudio Di Giovannantonio presented the Grace project and discussed the role of institutions in ensuring pasture conservation.
The two events, which were organised by Slow Food Lazio, were an opportunity for breeders, scientists and technicians to discuss and find solutions to complex issues together.
LIFE GRACE (14/10/2024)