BACOLOD City – Negrense advocates are pioneering the slow food travel model in the Philippines, which is also a first-of-its-kind outside Europe.
Organic food producer Ramon Uy Jr., a member of Slow Food Community- Negros Island, said on Tuesday the concept will be a unique tourism product of Western Visayas.
The slow food travel project was launched during the two-day Pop-Up Earth Markets held at May’s Organic Garden in the city on March 27 and 28.
“Slow food travel is known in Europe, so we’re having it here in the region. The end-goal is to bring economic benefits to the rural areas,” Uy said.
The project is a partnership between the Slow Food Community-Negros Island, Department of Tourism, Department of Agriculture, Central Philippine State University, and Slow Food International.
Under the initiative, training on slow food product development and capacity-building will be held mainly for industry stakeholders, particularly the farmers.
The first virtual training will be held on April 21, which will be conducted by the Slow Food International based in Italy.
Another activity is a biodiversity mapping for the identification of biodiversity hot spots in Negros.
The island has a rich biodiversity, including the batuan fruit, a souring agent endemic in Negros and some parts of Western Visayas and found to have four varieties, Uy said.
Uy pointed out the guiding principles of slow food include supporting small-scale farmers producing good, clean, and fair food as well as agro-ecology preservation.(PNA)
