Carlo Petrini, founder of Slow Food, passed away May 21, 2026 at the age of 76 in the Italian town of Bra. The following information was provided by Slow Food International and Slow Food USA to help our community remember our founder.
A visionary leader and public intellectual with a profound commitment to the common good, human relationships, and the natural world, Carlo Petrini founded Slow Food, the international Terra Madre gathering, and the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo. Through these initiatives, he brought to life a global movement rooted in the values of good, clean, and fair food for all, connecting communities, farmers, food artisans, cooks, activists, and young people across the world.
“Those who sow utopia reap reality” — a phrase Carlo Petrini loved to say — encapsulates his life. He firmly believed that dreams and visions, when they are just, capable of inspiring collective participation, and pursued with conviction, are not impossible to achieve.
He combined the ability to dream with a deep sense of joy and collective purpose, paving concrete paths toward social change. His work was always rooted in collaboration with others, especially younger generations, and guided by passion, empathy and fraternity.
His energy, his determination, and his lifelong dedication to others will remain a guiding force for the entire Slow Food movement and for all those who shared his vision.
Read the full biography: https://www.slowfood.com/blog-and-news/the-biography-of-carlo-petrini
Explore key moments from Carlo Petrini’s life and work: https://www.slowfood.com/blog-and-news/39686-2
Read remembrances of Carlo Petrini from people from around the world: https://www.slowfood.com
Read “Praise of Slowness.” The article was published in the first issue of Slow, the international magazine of the Slow Food movement, in 1996: https://slowfoodsouthwillamette.org/praise-of-slowness
Carlo Petrini: The Heart That Connected Us
Today, more than ever, we feel the true power of the ideas, intelligence, and creativity that gave birth to our snail. And we can say it without hesitation: today, we say goodbye to a visionary of our time.
Carlo was one of the most brilliant and original public intellectuals of our era. He could speak with a king, a pope, a farmer, a shepherd, a fisher, or a student without ever changing his tone, because he spoke a universal language: the language of humanity. He had a rare gift for making every person feel seen, valued, and essential. He didn’t just build a network — he built a community rooted in dignity, listening, and shared purpose.
A visionary leader with a profound commitment to the common good, to relationships, and to the natural world, Carlo founded Slow Food, Terra Madre, and the University of Gastronomic Sciences. Through these initiatives, he brought to life a global movement grounded in the values of good, clean, and fair food for all — connecting people across every corner of the planet.
At the heart of this vision was Terra Madre. Carlo imagined it as a place where those who produce food — the custodians of biodiversity and traditions — could meet, exchange ideas, and find solutions together. He wanted them never to feel alone. In bringing them together, he created something deeply concrete and profoundly human: a global network sustained by solidarity, knowledge, and hope.
But Carlo also believed that change must be joyful. He loved the moments when the Slow Food network gathered — moments of celebration, of shared meals, of laughter and debate. He understood that sitting at the table together was not only an act of nourishment, but an act of connection. Food, for him, was always a way to build relationships, to create belonging, to nurture both body and spirit.
“Those who sow utopia reap reality,” he often said. This phrase captures the essence of his life. Carlo believed that dreams — when they are just, shared, and pursued with conviction — can transform the world. And he lived this belief every day, combining visionary thinking with concrete action, always grounded in collaboration, empathy, and fraternity.
From a small group of friends in the Italian countryside in the 1980s, he helped grow a movement that today touches millions of lives. He dedicated his entire life to imagining, building, and nurturing what Slow Food has become. His loss is immeasurable, not only for our organization, but for each of us who had the privilege to walk alongside him, to be inspired by him, challenged by him, and guided by him.
In this moment of grief, each of us responds in their own way, shaped by our personal and shared histories with Carlo. But the most important thing we can do to honor him is what he always asked of us: to stay united, to keep our course steady, and to remember that we are the custodians of a great treasure.
Let us transform our grief into renewed commitment. Let us hold close the values he believed in so deeply. Let us continue to build the future he envisioned — together.
Carlo’s energy, generosity, and lifelong dedication will remain a guiding force for all of us. His legacy lives on in every community, every field, every kitchen, every young person who chooses to believe that a better food system is possible.
And above all, it lives on in the bonds he created — between people, cultures, and generations.