Why does Biodiversity Matter?

Life cannot exist without biodiversity, but the dominating industrial food system threatens the careful relationships among plants, animals, soil, water, and air. Around the world, 75% of edible plant species have become extinct while three commodity crops — wheat, rice, and corn —make up 60% of our food production. Our future depends on defending the diversity of plants and animals!

Slow Food’s mission includes considering food products and production techniques as integral aspects of biodiversity in need of protection. Our conservation of food biodiversity by promoting sustainable agroecological practices and consumption choices is our path toward good, clean, and fair food for all.

As an East End community, we have the unique opportunity to be surrounded by so many farms and food producers that are using sustainable practices and we want to help protect them and also use these practices in our own lives.

How can you make a difference?

1. Tune in to the Slow Food USA’s Live event today at 2pm, to learn more about biodiversity and how you can take action to nurture nature, with experts from all over the world.
2. Support your local farms and food producers, restaurants and stores that are using sustainable agricultural practices, sourcing, procurement, and food production practices. Check out our Snail of Approval businesses to get started.
3. Start your own garden! In your backyard, join a community garden, grow in pots on your porch or windowsill. Growing, even on a small scale increases the biodiversity in your local biosphere by adding nutrients to the soil, creating a habitat for organisms, pollinators and other insects to live and fresh food for you! Here are some resources on where to start.
4. Learn more about the 2024 Farm Bill, and advocate to make some much needed changes.
5. Call your local legislator and ask for these changes! Look up your local legislators here and Slow Food USA has a script you can follow here.

Any questions please reach out via Slow Food Email

Let’s nourish our connections and connect our food ways together. 

#Slowtheforksdown – #FeedtheForks