The conference, Terra Madre, which means mother Earth, will be held in Turin - the birthplace of the slow-food movement.

It will provide an opportunity for slow-food practitioners, including chefs and food producers, to share ideas, information and their enthusiasm with like-minded people.

Mr Thomas, owner of catering business Spade to Blade, said he was thrilled to be asked to actively involve himself in such an important event.

"Taste education is a major theme of the slow-food movement, and education in general, and a particular passion of mine," he said.

"Terra Madre will give me the opportunity to share local knowledge and bring the world's best practice and global understandings back to my home community."

There will be 1600 food communities from more than 150 countries to share experiences and discuss the development of slow-food concepts and innovations.

Much of the event will focus on helping food communities improve the quality of their products.

Mr Thomas will attend the conference from October 26 to 30. On his return he will be relocating his business, based on slow-food principles, from the Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens to the rear section of the Old Victoria Hotel, Daylesford.