Carlo Petrini, founder of the Slow Food movement, has died at the age of 76.

Carlo Petrini, the founder of the international Slow Food movement, has died at the age of 77. This was announced on May 22 on the website of the organization he created.

"Carlo Petrini, a visionary leader and public figure deeply committed to the common good, human relations and nature, <...> has created a global movement based on the values of high—quality, clean and fair food for all, bringing together communities, farmers, food producers, chefs, activists and youth around the world," it says. in the obituary.

The Italian was born in 1949. He was engaged in gastronomy, journalism, and wrote books. Petrini devoted his entire life to promoting healthy eating and caring for nature in food production. The Slow Food movement was founded by him in 1986 in opposition to the fast food culture, which he called the barbarism of modern times. Later, his followers appeared in many countries of the world.

In 2004, Petrini created the international network Madre Terra ("Mother Earth"), which aims to preserve the biodiversity and culinary traditions of different nations. In the same year, he founded the University of Gastronomic Sciences. The activist paid a lot of attention not only to major culinary traditions, but also to the preservation of indigenous culture in different parts of the world.