Catalonia will be World Region of Gastronomy in 2025

Catalonia will be World Region of Gastronomy in 2025. This was announced by the Minister for Business and Labour, Roger Torrent i Ramió, and the Secretary for Food at the Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda, Carmel Mòdol i Bresolí, at an event held on Monday in the gardens of Palau Robert in Barcelona, attended by some of the best-known chefs in Catalan cooking and senior representatives of the farming, livestock and fishing sectors.

The World Region of Gastronomy 2025 title "will help us showcase our food production, our cooking and our destination", said Minister Torrent. For the business and labour minister, "our culinary legacy, together with innovation and talent, has made Catalonia the country where you eat and drink best in the world".

The Secretary for Food, Carmel Mòdol i Bresolí, explained that "in the coming years we will have the chance to show, as we have been able to do these days with the international jury that visited us, that we have excellent food producers and chefs here; it is that combination that has earned us this recognition". "With this title we give even greater value to our agri-food system and to the pride of the country we live in: Catalonia, where food is culture", added Mòdol.

World Region of Gastronomy is an initiative run by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism (IGCAT). The title aims to highlight and promote regions that actively contribute to improving people's quality of life by championing different food cultures, health and sustainability education and culinary innovation. The award lends regions credibility, as it is granted by an independent international jury of experts from fields such as tourism, culture, hospitality and farming.

IGCAT's president, Diane Dodd, said that the institution she chairs was "impressed" by the National Commitment to Responsible Tourism, the Catalan Food and Wine Tourism Strategy 2022-27 and the Strategic Food Plan for Catalonia 2021-26. "We believe these are strategic action plans for ensuring a very successful world region of gastronomy", Dodd says. She also praised the involvement of various multi-sector stakeholder organisations in protecting Catalan food tradition and fostering unique tourism experiences.

New initiatives to position Catalonia as a food and wine benchmark

Thanks to this award, the Catalan government will allocate €9 million to drive a series of new initiatives aimed at positioning Catalonia as a leading global food and wine benchmark. These include the International Week of the World Region of Gastronomy, to be held in the main cities and countries with Catalan Government Delegations, featuring events such as point-of-sale and restaurant promotions, wine tastings, cultural evenings, debates, food and wine experiences and chef exchanges.

Also, Also notable is the Àpat Catalunya, a mass dinner in a landmark Barcelona street or public space in the style of a village festival, showcasing the most iconic dishes and recipes of Catalan cuisine. Work will also be done to bring the 9th UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Global Conference on Wine Tourism to Catalonia, and the Som Gastronomia Tour 2025 will be held: a series of presentations in the main source markets for food and wine tourism to Catalonia, aimed at operators, press and opinion leaders, with a technological and innovative component.

In 2016 Catalonia was awarded the title of European Region of Gastronomy. On that occasion more than 500 organisations, players and individuals working to promote Catalan cuisine held almost 500 activities related to produce, cooking and the territory, of varying size and character.