Carlo Petrini

Former political journalist Carlo Petrini is now one of the world's most highly regarded food activists. He founded Slow Food more than 30 years ago a global grassroots organisation that envisions a world in which all people can access and enjoy food that is good for them good for those who grow it and good for the planet. Under Petrini's inspiring leadership this non-profit member-supported association now has more than 100000 members in over 160 countries.

In 2004 he launched the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo Italy to offer academic programmes that bridge the gap between agriculture and gastronomy.Recognised as an outstanding orator Petrini will share his beliefs on the damage inflicted on the developing world by global food companies.

He will present an alternative model built on respect for local food cultures and traditions that counteracts the rise of fast life and combats people's dwindling interest in the food they eat where it comes from and how our food choices affect the world around us.This session forms part of a series by Oxford Gastronomica Oxford Brookes University's centre for the study of food drink and culture.