Two movements, one common root. Digital sustainability enters the agenda of good, clean and fair food.

Slow Food Italia and Sloweb APS have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that brings the two movements together around a shared commitment: promoting a use of digital technology that is sober, clean and fair, starting from the agri-food sector.

The Memorandum is accompanied by long-term objectives and activities defined through 2030.

The first public event of the alliance will be Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, taking place in Turin from September 24 to 27, 2026, where Sloweb will be involved in a wide range of events dedicated to digital sustainability.

“For forty years, Slow Food has been raising awareness: about food, of course, but also about food production, biodiversity and more. We also need to raise awareness about digital technology, so that we are not overwhelmed by the power of tools that must remain at the service of humanity. We need digital education that enables us to make informed choices about how we feed our minds.” — Barbara Nappini, President of Slow Food Italia

“Over forty years, Slow Food has shown that it is possible to build a global movement starting from the concrete reality of everyday practices. We are doing the same with digital technology. This alliance gives us the network and legitimacy to do it at scale: we are ready.” — Mauro Bulgarini, President of Sloweb APS

The digital industry currently generates around 4% of global CO₂ emissions, a share higher than that of civil aviation and expected to grow with the spread of artificial intelligence. Every new smartphone has already generated 83 kg of CO₂ emissions before being switched on for the first time. Data centres worldwide consume as much electricity as entire countries, while artificial intelligence models require millions of litres of water to cool servers.

Meanwhile, the agricultural sector is under pressure from growing and unguided digitalisation: machinery that extracts data and cannot be repaired by farmers, platforms that create dependence on technology oligopolies, and digital traceability systems that often primarily benefit intermediaries.

Slow Food Italia and Sloweb share the belief that a digital transition not guided by sustainability criteria risks undermining the achievements of the agri-food movement. Good, clean and fair food can only be achieved through sober, clean and fair technologies and processes.

What the Memorandum Includes

The Memorandum of Understanding will remain in force for 24 months from the date of signing and may be renewed.

It defines several objectives.

Short-term objectives

• Inform citizens, businesses and civil society about the real impacts of digital technology, using verifiable data and accessible language.
• Educate through training programmes in schools, companies and Slow Food local chapters across Italy, including the Orto Digitale project.
• Promote good digital sustainability practices, starting with the launch of the Sloweb Recipes at Terra Madre 2026.
• Showcase companies and solutions working towards responsible digital technology, through a recognition system inspired by the Slow Food Presidia.

Medium-term objectives

• Support applied research on digital sustainability in the agri-food sector, in collaboration with the University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo.
• Integrate digital sustainability practices into companies within the Slow Food network through the Slow Digital Menu and self-assessment tools.

Terra Madre 2026: the First Testing Ground

The first public event of the alliance will be Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, taking place in Turin from September 24 to 28, 2026.

Sloweb will take part with a programme including a film series, performances and Slowlessons, including:

• September 25: Corporate Training Event — an awareness-building pathway on the impact of digital technology for companies in the agri-food sector.
• September 27: Digital Ethics Forum, sessions 3 and 4 — discussion and call to action on the relationship between digital technology and good, clean and fair food, involving local institutions and companies.
• September 27: OCDR – Responsible Digital Consumption Observatory, with the participation of companies from North-West Italy.
• September 28: Digital Pacts — agreements between families that help communities manage digital devices and services responsibly.

During Terra Madre, Sloweb Recipes. Recipes for a Healthier Digital Life will also be launched: ten practical recipes for a more conscious use of digital technology, distributed in HTML format and on postcards for the public.

Press contact • Slow Food
Slow Food Italia Press Office
press@slowfooditalia.it

Press contact • Sloweb
Pietro Jarre, Secretary of Sloweb APS
pietrojarre@sloweb.org