Carlo Petrini, Slow Food Founder, Dies at 76

Carlo Petrini died yesterday at his home in Bra, Italy, at the age of 76. He founded Slow Food in 1986, advocating for food that is good, clean, and fair for all. Petrini, a sociologist and gastronome, challenged modern consumption patterns and promoted local producers.

He established Terra Madre in 2004, connecting food communities worldwide. Also in 2004, he founded the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy—the first university dedicated to food culture and ecology. More recently, in 2017, Petrini co-founded the Laudato si' Communities, inspired by Pope Francis’ ecological encyclical.

Slow Food remembers Petrini as a man who believed dreams become reality through passion and action. The organization acknowledges his energy and empathy will continue to inspire them, though the full scope of his vision remains a long-term project. The work to build a more sustainable food system continues.