This is a CTP of initiative: Slow Food Araba-Vitoria (Spain)
The turning point mentioned by the interviewee – the designation of the President of SFAV as a member of the Slow Food International Board- is directly linked to the 6th International Slow Food Congress (25-29 October 2012). During that congress, delegates from 95 countries discussed the strategic lines of the international association and renewed the bodies of the association. Thus, since 2012 the organizational structure of the international network has an Executive Committee (newly created and composed of six people) and a renewed International Slow Food Council with greater international representation.
The interviewee signals this moment as a CTP (turning point) due to the election of the president of the Slow Food convivium Araba-Vitoria, Alberto López de Ipiña, as a new member of the International Council, representing the convivia from the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). This Board will be made up of 45 new directors from 30 countries, who attempt to represent broadly all the territories of a movement that, from 2012 on, can be defined as global. It should also be noted that there is no national association in Spain that coordinates the activity of the convivia, so that the position at the International Slow Food Council is usually filled by a Slow Food member who stands out for his organizational capacity, leadership or the dynamism of his/her convivium.
The interviewee has mainly highlighted two positive aspects derived from the presence of the president of SFAV, Alberto López de Ipiña, in the Slow Food Board. First, this event contributed to the convivium of SFAV becoming a reference within the movement, a local initiative that the international network has described as an example of good practice. Secondly, it has served as an element that has strengthened the cohesion and commitment of the members of the convivium. As explained below, the members of SFAV consider this moment as a collective success, a recognition of the work they had been developing in recent years from Araba:
Regarding our internal organisation we have not noticed any change. But it has been a rush. From the moment that he began here one afternoon while we were four picnicking, to be the representative of the movement for the Iberian peninsula. It's a reason to be happy. And the recognition that you gain…because he was part of our local group (...) It means being a reference for the community. For the group here it was important, for our visibility, because people talked so much about our group, it made those in the group feel very flattered and very comfortable. That makes others dare to approach Slow Food. It seems that things work. It is important. There are always people approaching us, even small associations with which we now work, such as ecological associations and groups (...) That always help. That people see you as a referent, that we do our bit.
The turning point described by the interviewee is directly related to an internal activity developed by the international network, the 6th International Slow Food Congress. This conference is held every four years and aims, in addition to the renewal of the governing bodies of the International Association, at approving the movement's strategy of action for the following four years.
The 6th Slow Food Congress represented a turning point not only for Slow Food Áraba Vitoria, but for the whole movement at the global level. At the congress, a document entitled "The Central role of Food", prepared by Carlo Petrini, Carlo Bogliotti, Rinaldo Rava, and Cinzia Scaffidi was agreed, which establishes a change in the movement's vision and mission. Slow Food ceases to be an organization oriented solely to the defence of gastronomy, but commits itself as a political subject that will work in the defence of biodiversity and the right to food as the following text sets out:
"The Central Role of Food, which this document wants to forcefully affirm, implies the conviction that the right to food is the primary right of mankind to guarantee life not only for mankind but for the entire planet. This statement will have important consequences for our way of acting and working: it will help us overcome the atavistic limitation of the gourmet who does not look beyond his own plate, and it will lead us to a safe bank where true pleasure and simplicity will be sought; the agriculture will take care of goodness and beauty, the taste will go arm in arm with knowledge, the local economy will watch over the care of the planet and the future of young people. Without the right to a good, clean and just food for all, these objectives cannot be realized and the whole humanity will suffer as our mother earth does" (The Central Role of Food, 2012: 4-5).
Second, the coincidence in the same physical space of the Terra Madre meeting and the Salone del Gusto 2012 with the 6th Congress of Slow Food favoured the participation of a greater number of delegates and a greater territorial representation of the movement. As expressed by its leaders, for the first time the composition of the Congress reflects a true global network, representing a great diversity of cultures, beliefs and different sensibilities, also as a result of the exponential growth of the association in Latin America, Asia or Africa.
This cultural and territorial diversity has been highlighted by the interviewee (coinciding with other Slow Food interviewees in the TRANSIT project), as a strong point of the association, an extra motivation for wanting to belong to or remain in the movement. The participants in the congress feel that their motivation and commitment grows and they perceive that their work - at the local level - is important, makes sense and contributes effectively to people’s well-being- and to the conservation of the ecosystems - globally (SFAV partners are particularly pride of the "10.00 Gardens in Africa" project to which all Slow Food partners contribute through their annual membership fee. The Slow Food congress also brought the generational renewal of the movement to life, engaging the newly formed youth network "Slow Food Youth Network" in a number of activities (however, this network has not yet been created in Spain).
The interviewee mentions one event directly related to the election of Alberto López as a member of the Slow Food International Board: the celebration in Turin, simultaneously to the Slow Food Congress, of the Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre 2012. An event that achieved to gather thousands of people and which has served to increase the visibility of Slow Food around the world and, in relation to Slow Food Araba-Vitoria, it has meant an increase of its prestige and international recognition.
A second event related to the CTP (turning point) is the Slow Food International Board meeting in the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz two years later, in April 2014. This visit by the Slow Food Board was understood by the members of the convivium as a recognition by the Slow Food movement as a whole to the work developed by the convivium of SFAV:
You can see that when the International Board has come here, because they are happy, they consider that we are doing a good job. This has been fostered by the fact that Alberto is now a member of the Board, otherwise they would hardly have come. They have come, they have been here, and they have seen us. We were visited by the entire Slow Food International Board with Carlo Petrini leading the way. The fact that from Italy, where the Board is based, came here, together with the American, African and Mexican advisors, is an important reinforcement to keep going. We all enjoy to be given a pat on our backs…People telling you how good you are, and how well you are doing it. They also talk to you in a very sincere way. Alberto is now an advisor and he has a higher reach. Right now, in that aspect we are very well
The designation of Alberto López as a member of the International Board has also reinforced Slow Food's position with local and regional institutions with which the local convivium often collaborates. This international meeting favoured Slow Food's influence in the local context, especially in terms of their standing with public institutions, increasing the capacity of SFAV to obtain public funding or support from the local government:
When the International Slow Food Council was held, the welcome event was organized at the Provincial Council. And then (the advisors) were there for a few days holding meetings. That's putting the Provincial Council on our side. To be received by the General Deputy, the Deputy for Agriculture, and other driving forces from the province, that makes this movement important. It has an impact on the regional press. It is important when we then ask for more support to the City Council and the Provincial Council. Of course, they see we are doing things well when the Slow Food Board comes here, to Araba. It's then easier to go talk to them and ask for collaboration because we have international support
During his visit, Carlo Petrini, president of Slow Food, awarded one of the most representative products from Araba, the Salt from the “Añana Salt Mines”, with the category of "Slow Food Presidia", the highest recognition granted by the movement (only given to 400 Products around the world). The presence of Petrini in Vitoria increased the coverage that both the local and regional press gave to the event:
It is important to recognize our salt mines as a Presidia. Taking advantage of that visit Añana salt mines were given the consideration of bulwark. From the beginning Carlo Petrini was very interested in it. From the beginning, when he learned the value of salt, of the salt mines, he wanted it to be included (in the catalogue) ... And that it is something of our own, to recognize our salt mines is very important. This was published everywhere, we were seen all over the Basque Country. In Araba we are in the press every week, well, but when there is something that stands out a little, we appear in the regional media, and we gain visibility at the level of the Basque Country
The respondent did not mention the existence of internal opposition to the participation of the president of Slow Food Araba-Vitoria, Alberto López de Ipiña, at the International Slow Food Board. On the contrary, he considers that the association has considered it a matter of satisfaction and the recognition not only to the work developed by Alberto Lopez, but also to the work of all the partners and volunteers of the convivium. Likewise, the presence of Alberto López in the Council is perceived as an opportunity for the movement as a whole to get to know the work by SFAV, and even to create new relations, to strengthen its presence within the movement.
However, the interviewee expresses, succinctly, almost in an implicit way, that the election may not have been that well accepted by other groups or convivia within the Basque Country:
Despite our better or worse relations with other groups in the Basque country, here we are
This seems to be due to the existence of certain differences in approach between the convivia. For example, the way in which each local convivium collaborates with producers, applying the principles and criteria of Slow Food in either a more strict or flexible way. Slow Food Araba-Vitoria has maintained flexibility and openness to collaborate with small producers who, although not belonging to the Ark of Taste catalogue, strive to maintain a traditional way of producing local products.
This more open position is not understood by other local initiatives within the movement. However, such misunderstandings do not appear to have been publicly expressed and no clear criticism has been made regarding the election of Alberto López as international adviser of Slow Food.
There seems to be a shared perception among some members of Slow Food Araba-Vitoria, regarding the appointment of Alberto López as international advisor of the movement could be positive for the local convivium itself. However, it may still be early for concluding that there is an overall consensus at the level of the local convivium when considering this fact as a turning point in their history.
The members of Slow Food have understood - after some time - that belonging to the Slow Food International Board has opened up more possibilities to take part in, and to influence local policies or when promoting joint projects with the University of the Basque Country or with the Basque Government. Also, despite the economic crisis, which has substantially reduced institutional support to social entities and the third sector, Slow Food Araba-Vitoria has managed to maintain its external financing sources, having the economic resources to carry out the great variety of projects and activities that the group promotes, such as school gardens or workshops of taste.
Everything seems to indicate that those most directly involved in the day-to-day management of the association have perceived an evolution in Slow Food Araba-Vitoria's capacity to reach agreements or generate collective projects with other entities and associations within their local context. Slow Food has assumed a leadership role in the local context of Vitoria-Gasteiz, both creating synergies and alliances with other movements and groups working in the field of sustainability and food. They have even come to promote a local strategy to reach a more sustainable and healthy city regarding food, then giving the leadership to the City Council.
The respondent says that the recognition that Slow Food International has given to the SFAV convivium (with the visit of the International Board to Vitoria-Gasteiz) has greatly contributed to the maintenance of this institutional support to Slow Food activities. Slow Food Araba-Vitoria has increased its involvement in the international fairs carried out by the international network. A representation of the SFAV convivium of about 20 people (producers, cooks and volunteers) has been present in the celebration of the Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre in 2014 with its own stand where they exhibited 18 products from Araba (many of them currently included in the Slow Food´s "Ark of Taste" catalogue). This has been made possible by the funding granted by the Provincial Council of Araba.
The lessons learned by the interviewee focus on the understanding of the role that the local convivium can play within the community, when it comes to promoting a change in the lifestyles of their fellow citizens. To do this, it seems necessary, firstly, to become a reference for the community, to be an association recognized by the majority of citizens and whose transformative discourse is appealing. The members of Slow Food Araba-Vitoria are aware that this is a slow but feasible process, and they discuss internally the best strategies to reach citizenship and to convince their fellow citizens to be part of the Slow Food movement or, at the least, to introduce changes in their consumption patterns.
It's among our leitmotifs. If every time we go to an event, we get at least one person convinced that what we defend is good, without forcing anyone, if we explain things to them, they try them, see that the products are there, that it's not that complicated. If we convince only one person per day, it is a success
Secondly, members of Slow Food Araba-Vitoria have learned to lead community projects, establishing links between groups that were previously unrelated and promoting common projects. The example given by the interviewee is the collaboration agreement between the Vitoria City Council, Slow Food and the University of the Basque Country "for the development of an awareness raising programme on the consumption of local products":
Slow Food is the connection between the university, primary schools and producers. We are the ones that put them in contact and carry the weight of the activities. Kids have contact with the natural environment where the activities are developed. They learn to value the cost of things, the work behind them. They learn that there is a job that serves to take care of the natural environment. When they start seeing this from the earliest age, I think they value things differently. Going to the supermarket and buying products is not the same when you have been exposed to other ideas and you have directly seen the products, and put a face to them and see the work behind each product they buy in the supermarket. I think if you put faces on things you see life in a very different way
The members of Slow Food Araba-Vitoria have also learned from other educational experiences developed by their Italian colleagues. The participation in international events such as Terra Madre or Salone del Gusto has allowed them to know firsthand the impact that this kind of educational activities can have for children:
In Italy, you see groups of young kids, 6 or 8 years old, who come with their school, with their notebook, who ask us things that you would not otherwise hear a kid asking. How is food produced? How many hectares do they need to feed (animals)? Things like that. Here children do not even know what organic production means. Or they come and ask for a product they have seen two years ago. It seems there is strong culture in that part of Italy regarding the importance of gastronomy. It would be a joy to do things a little like that, not only in Araba but also beyond. Let things be done with a heart. To be much more valued. Because there are products to defend everywhere
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