Four indigenous Taiwan grains will be entered into the Ark of Taste, an international database of endangered heritage foods, at the Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre expo Oct. 23-27 in Turin, Italy.
Djulis, a native Chenopodium species similar to quinoa, along with glutinous millet and the purple and red varieties of glutinous rice, are to be preserved in the cataloguing project maintained by Florence-headquartered Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity.
Wu Mei-mao, an agriculture activist based in New Taipei City, said the listing enables Taiwan to promote unique local agricultural experiences worldwide and play its part in protecting biodiversity.
As founder of organic farming social enterprise Taiwan Way, Wu will speak at the event, sharing the nation’s success in restoring the autochthonous species once on the brink of extinction.
Over 1,700 edibles and food practices, including the livestock breed used for making prosciutto di Parma, a rare Peruvian corn and a critically endangered cheese-making process, have been registered in the Ark of Taste since its establishment in 1996.
The Turin expo, also organized by the Slow Food Foundation, is one of Europe’s largest food shows, with more than 7,000 food producers from 173 countries taking part. Featuring the UN theme of International Year of Family Farming, the triennial event seeks to promote sustainable agriculture with the goal of preserving taste and biodiversity.
