With deep sorrow, we receive the news of the passing of Carlo Petrini, dear friend, fellow traveler, and an unwavering voice in the defense of the Earth, of food, and of living communities.

For decades, we walked together in shared struggles: for biodiversity, for seed freedom, for the dignity of small farmers, and for a food system rooted in care, justice, and the sacred relationship between human beings and nature. Through Terra Madre, Slow Food, and the many global networks Carlo helped to nurture, millions have reawakened to the understanding that food is a commons, and that cultural and ecological diversity are the very foundations of peace and true democracy.

Carlo embodied the rare ability to root himself deeply in place while holding a planetary vision. He gave voice to peasants, seed keepers, artisanal producers, and to the communities who courageously defend the Earth against an extractive and destructive industrial model. Together, we shared gatherings, dialogues, international forums, and moments of collective mobilization, affirming that the future of humanity depends on our capacity to protect biodiversity and to regenerate the living bonds between people and the Earth.

I carry a vivid memory of his participation in the International Commission on the Future of Food and Agriculture, initiated by Claudio Martini, then President of the Tuscany Region. From this meeting, in 2008, the Manifesto for the Future of Food was born.

His legacy will live on in the seeds of hope he has sown across the world, in the webs of solidarity he helped to weave, and in the new generations who will carry this journey forward, for food that is good, clean, and just.

My heart is with his family, the Slow Food community, and all those who loved him.

Vandana Shiva
President of Navdanya International

photo credit: identitagolose.com