Carlo Petrini, the visionary behind Italy’s influential Slow Food movement that champions high-quality ingredients, authentic food preparation and locally-sourced products, has passed away at 76 years old.
Petrini died Thursday in his home city of Bra, located in Italy’s northwestern Piedmont region, according to a Friday statement from Slow Food. The organization did not specify what caused his death.
The movement’s former president, who stepped down from that role in 2022, had publicly shared in recent years that he was battling prostate cancer.
The Slow Food organization originated in 1986 as a response to McDonald’s establishment of its first Italian location in Rome’s historic downtown area.
According to the organization’s statement, Petrini “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.”
The movement grew from a small circle of companions in Italy’s rural areas during the 1980s into a worldwide network that now operates in over 160 nations, Slow Food noted.
Petrini developed a personal friendship with Britain’s King Charles through their shared commitment to sustainable farming practices, as both men championed organic agriculture methods.
