Region of Gastronomy Award

Protecting and promoting local food culture


We are part of a panel of experts for the European Region of Gastronomy award, and collaborate with this European network which highlights distinctive food cultures, educates for better health and sustainability, and stimulates gastronomic innovation.

Food experiences are an increasingly important part of creative tourism experiences and culture and food are being interlinked in new and demanding ways. At the same time, food cultures around the world are a rich source of cultural, economic and social diversity. In order to generalise this locally-embedded innovation culture to other European regions, it is important to have mechanisms to showcase regional gastronomy, local innovation and creativity. One potential means of achieving this is through a major award that will use food and gastronomy as a means to stimulate innovation and showcase regional food cultures and identities.

The European Region of Gastronomy title is awarded to different European regions each year, and will be selected by a panel of experts and coordinated by IGCAT. The knowledge development function of the European Region of Gastronomy is extremely important, because this provides the platform for spreading the wider benefits of the programme. IGCAT therefore oversees the running of the European Region of Gastronomy programme and provides a focus for gathering and disseminating the knowledge generated by the event.

The European Region of Gastronomy award aims to contribute to better quality of life in European regions, by highlighting distinctive food cultures, educating for better health and sustainability and stimulating gastronomic innovation. A knowledge-exchange platform of European Regions organises the award with the support of European institutions and coordinated by IGCAT.

The project was initiated by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism (IGCAT) involving European regions.

Projects