By CESAR JOLITO III

Negros Island is positioned as a rising leader in sustainable food systems, ecological agriculture and culinary heritage as it made history yesterday during the inaugural Terra Madre Asia and Pacific, a landmark gathering of Slow Food advocates, chefs, farmers, and sustainability leaders from the continent and the Pacific.

Terra Madre brought together delegates from over 20 countries, along with participants from across the Philippines, to explore and feature the region’s food systems.

With the event, held at the Negros Occidental Capitol Park and Lagoon, now anchored in Negros, the province is emerging as a global model for community-driven food systems.

Bacolod City Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the city’s food culture embodies sustainability and heritage.

“In Bacolod, we don’t believe in light snacks — our snacks have snacks,” he quipped, eliciting laughter.

“The faster the world spins, the more we need to nourish our soul. Slow Food honors the farmers, artisans and cooks who pour time, talent and heart into every ingredient. Without them, the world would be left with fast food every day — and that should be classified as a human rights violation,” he added.

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson stressed that aligning the 18th Negros Island Organic Festival with Terra Madre allowed chefs and delegates to directly engage with local farmers and producers.

“This is a moment to showcase the richness of our land and sea and the quality of our farm products,” Lacson said, adding that the event fosters collaboration toward a more food-secure future.

Meanwhile, Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya highlighted the cultural and ancestral roots of food, calling it “a living record of identity.”

He underscored that Negros’ landscapes and coastlines sustain communities whose traditions are integral to both local identity and biodiversity.

Global participation, local impact

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, in an interview during the opening, noted the event’s far-reaching impact on both tourism and livelihoods.

Frasco explained that Terra Madre Asia and Pacific brings together delegates from over 20 countries and across the Philippines to showcase regional food systems.

“The hosting of this event is not just an economic boost,” Frasco said, “but also a way to honor farmers, fisherfolk, artisans, and local chefs, ensuring no one is left behind in tourism development. About 17 percent of tourist spending goes toward food, and this event provides tangible benefits to those who produce and serve it.”

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary Kiko Benitez described Terra Madre as “more than symbolic — it is a defining moment for Negros and for the future of food in the region.”

He emphasized the urgent need to address climate impacts on food systems, referencing a recent P1.2 billion loss in the sugar industry due to Typhoon “Tino.”

“We need a new kind of revolution — a green economic transformation that combines innovation with traditional ecological wisdom,” Benitez said, highlighting Slow Food principles such as agro-ecology, soil regeneration and the empowerment of small farmers.

“Food security is vital, but food sovereignty — communities controlling their own food systems — is even more powerful,” he added./CJ, WDJ