On Thursday, 24 September, as part of Terra Madre Salone del Gusto 2026, BIA co-moderated the meeting “6 Cities, 5 Earth Markets, Another Vision of the World” with Giovanni Venegoni. The event focused on the project Slow Food in Action. Another Vision of the World, promoted by Slow Food Italy.

Held in the courtyard of the National Museum of the Italian Risorgimento in Turin, the meeting brought together local government representatives and delegates from the Earth Markets of Alba, Vicenza, Rome, Pontremoli, Martina Franca and Crispiano to discuss the role of markets in building new local food systems.

Following the introduction by Daniele Caucci, Co-Director of Terra!, the discussion unfolded across two panels. The first brought together representatives of local administrations: Pierangela Castellengo (City Councillor, Municipality of Alba), Sara Baldinato (Councillor for the Environment, Municipality of Vicenza), Sabrina Alfonsi (Councillor for Agriculture, Environment and Waste Management, Municipality of Rome) and Clara Cavellini (Deputy Mayor, Councillor and City Councillor, Municipality of Pontremoli).

The second panel gave the floor to representatives of the Earth Markets: Fabio Tavellin (Alba), Antonella Mignacca (Rome), Alice Codsi (Vicenza), Francesca Bongi (Pontremoli) and Alfredo De Lucreziis (Martina Franca and Crispiano).

Markets as spaces for exchange, expertise and food policies

At the heart of both panels was a shared reflection: Earth Markets can play a role that goes beyond commercial exchange. They can become spaces for interaction between producers, citizens and institutions, places where local knowledge and expertise are valued, and tools for developing new urban food policies.

The discussion highlighted three key dimensions of the market of the future: a platform for exchange and dialogue, a place to showcase skills and ideas, and a potential point of reference for cities’ food strategies.

Six cities, five Earth Markets and BIA’s role

Supported by the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, the project “Slow Food in Action. Another Vision of the World” involves six cities – Rome, Vicenza, Alba, Pontremoli, Martina Franca and Crispiano – with the aim of strengthening the role of Earth Markets in local food policies.

Through five pilot projects, local administrations and Earth Markets will work together to develop concrete actions to bring local, clean and fair food onto institutional agendas, encouraging more sustainable production and consumption models.

Launched at Terra Madre 2026, the initiative will continue over the coming months and conclude at Cheese 2027, when the results and outputs of the projects will be presented.

As part of the project, BIA will be responsible for qualitative and quantitative monitoring and impact assessment of the five pilot projects. This work will document the development of the initiatives, analyse their results and measure the value generated by the actions in each territory. The aim is to understand how collaboration between institutions, markets and communities can create new opportunities for local food systems.