Strada del Riso dei Tre Fiumi: Walking the Via Francigena to Celebrate 80 Years of Carnaroli Rice

30 December 2024

From 12 May to 12 June 2025, the Via Francigena will take centre stage in an initiative that blends tradition, innovation, and sustainability: Sosta&Gusta. This event, created by the Strada del Riso dei Tre Fiumi Association in collaboration with key partners such as Slow Food Lombardia, RiceHouse, AIDA, and others, celebrates the 80th anniversary of Carnaroli rice.

Through Sosta&Gusta, Carnaroli rice becomes an ambassador of universal values, weaving together past and future, culture and sustainability, while making a lasting impression along the journey towards the Agro-Environmental Jubilee of 2025.

Cristiana Sartori, president of the association and an organic rice farmer, together with naturalist and environmental hiking guide Piermaria Greppi, will embark on a unique journey: cycling nearly 2,000 km across England, France, Switzerland, and Italy, from London to Rome. Along the way, they will stop at 12 event locations along the Via Francigena, celebrating 80 years of Carnaroli rice, known as the “King of Rices,” while building a bridge between tradition, local heritage, and culinary culture.

Each stop will feature events centred on food and sustainability, including tastings, live cooking demonstrations, and moments for reflection. Among the key figures participating will be food cartoonist Roby Giannotti, who will creatively highlight the importance of rice and food as symbols of unity and awareness through his illustrations.

Objectives of the Initiative

Sosta&Gusta aims to promote slow and sustainable tourism, showcasing the Via Francigena not only as a historical-religious route but also as a pathway for cultural, environmental, and gastronomic discovery. Additionally, the event seeks to:

Encourage slow tourism along the Via Francigena, one of the main Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, by promoting the regions it passes through, their stories, flavours, and local communities.
Highlight the Stati Generali del Riso (International Rice Forum) to be held in Vigevano from 2–5 October 2025.
Celebrate Carnaroli Classic Rice, marking its 80th anniversary and emphasising its global significance.
Advocate for sustainability and raise awareness about the value of good, clean, and fair food as a tool for better living.
Promote cutting-edge sustainable bio-construction techniques for environmental and lifestyle benefits.
Build networks with key public and private stakeholders, fostering “positive activism” aligned with the values of the Laudato Si’ Encyclical for the Agro-Environmental Jubilee of 2025.

A Concrete Example of Circular Economy

A unique feature of the event will be the biomaterial living unit designed by RiceHouse, which will host Cristiana Sartori during her journey. This example of circular economy demonstrates the potential of rice not only as food but also as a resource for a more sustainable lifestyle.

Key Players

The initiative involves several key actors:

Strada del Riso dei Tre Fiumi: An association dedicated to promoting the excellence of the Pavia region, focusing on high-quality Italian rice production. Its name references the Sesia, Ticino, and Po rivers, emphasising the environmental value of rice cultivation.
Roby Giannotti: A food cartoonist, journalist, and architect, and co-creator of the Rice Angels, heroines who promote biodiversity, health, and nutrition, already featured in educational projects for schools.
EAVF (European Association of Via Francigena): The official coordinator of the Via Francigena, recognised as a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe. It connects 245 local entities, 92 associations, and over 400 economic operators across England, France, Switzerland, and Italy.
RiceHouse S.r.l. SB: A company specialising in sustainable construction materials derived from rice processing waste. It will provide the biomaterial living unit for Cristiana Sartori.
Piermaria Greppi: Piermaria Greppi, a naturalist and environmental hiking guide, as well as the founder of AVM Trekking, will document the entire event.
AIDA (Italian Association of Agroecology): Led by Professor Stefano Bocchi from the University of Milan, AIDA will discuss sustainable cultivation techniques and the qualities of Carnaroli rice during the Stati Generali del Riso.
Slow Food: An international movement advocating for good, clean, and fair food. It supports the project through the Slow Rice network, focused on sustainable rice production, with the involvement of the Vigevano and Lomellina branch in Italy.

A Message for the 2025 Jubilee

Francesco Ferrari, president of EAVF, highlighted the importance of the initiative:
“We immediately believed in the inspiring initiative by Strada del Riso dei Tre Fiumi for the important values it embodies. We have committed to providing essential organisational support, made possible by the network of relationships our transnational association has built over years of activity. The event is also a wonderful way to promote the Via Francigena and its local excellence during the 2025 Jubilee, combining ethical and spiritual values with key themes of culture, food, environment, quality of life, and sustainable tourism.”

Cristiana Sartori also stressed the project’s significance: “This event carries many values of great relevance: from promoting slow tourism to highlighting Italian rice cultivation in Europe with its historic risotto varieties; from celebrating the 80th anniversary of Carnaroli rice, known as the ‘King of Rice,’ to sharing, at a European level, a deeper awareness of the value of good, clean, and fair food as a tool for better living. This event will mark the start of a special year, the Agro-Environmental Jubilee, where we stand as Europe’s leading rice producers: Rice as ‘medicine for the body and soul’ in all its forms, through a circular economy that makes it a protagonist—from food to sustainable construction material: the true power of a single grain of rice!”

With Sosta&Gusta, Carnaroli Rice becomes an ambassador of universal values, intertwining past and future, culture and sustainability, and leaving a meaningful mark along the journey towards the Agro-Environmental Jubilee of 2025.