Catalonia presents its action plan as World Region of Gastronomy 2025

On 9 December the Catalan Government presented its action plan to drive World Region of Gastronomy 2025, positioning Catalonia internationally as a high-value food destination. With more than 50 planned actions, the programme reflects the culinary model and values that have made Catalonia the first European region to receive this distinction.

Catalan Food, the driver of international promotion

The programme Catalan Food will carry out international activities promoting Catalan produce in various strategic markets, such as showcookings, tastings, point-of-sale promotions and food experiences. These activities will culminate in September 2025 with a set of wide-reaching actions reinforcing the territory's culinary identity. Presentations will also be held across Spain to present Catalonia as a food destination and Catalan cooking as a mark of identity and difference.

Support for agri-food farms and Benvinguts a Pagès

During 2025 a professional mentoring programme for agri-food farms will be implemented, to increase professionalisation and improve the competitiveness of farms that open or wish to open to the public. The programme aims to be a tool to drive and support agri-food farms taking part, or wishing to take part, in the Benvingut a Pagès (BaP) initiative, which celebrates its tenth anniversary next year.

A food education programme to promote Catalan cooking in schools

A food education programme will be launched to promote Catalan cooking and the Mediterranean diet as drivers of quality and health in schools. Catalan cooking workshops led by advanced vocational cookery students and aimed at secondary pupils are planned in a pilot across 12 schools.

A calendar highlighting the territory's richness

Among the most notable actions, the project "12 months, 12 gastronomic landscapes" will show Catalonia's culinary and territorial diversity, devoting each month of 2025 to a specific gastronomic landscape. In addition, the initiative "12 months, 12 Designations of Origin" will champion the Catalan wine sector with activities strengthening the presence of DO wines.

A tribute to the producers of Catalan gastronomy

Meanwhile, the initiative Els herois del rebost (The pantry heroes) seeks to encourage collaboration between professional organisations to promote and champion Catalan foods such as olive oil, milk, wine, meat and fruit, among others. For olive oil, for example, the National Olive Oil Awards will be created, a Guide to Catalan Oils published and a new-season oil showcase organised in Barcelona.

A new food-and-wine route to taste every corner of Catalonia

Next year will see the launch of the new food-and-wine route Tasta el Grand Tour de Catalunya , which will let visitors discover Catalonia through their palate following the Grand Tour de Catalunya itinerary. A signage system will be installed at more than fifteen points across the territory, using photospots (photo frames) placed at strategic, emblematic spots, with dynamic QR codes giving information on the food and wine experiences available in the area.

International actions to promote Catalonia as a food-and-wine destination

The Som Gastronomia World Tour will hold presentations in various international cities to position Catalonia as a benchmark in food and wine tourism. In parallel, the Workshop Catalunya ve de gust will be a meeting of networking sellers and buyers in the sector, designed to boost the marketing of Catalonia's food and wine offering and consolidate its position as one of Europe's leading destinations in this field.

Innovation and new culinary infrastructure

As part of the recognition, new facilities will be created such as theEspai Vi. Centre d’Interpretació Enogastronòmica de Falset and theEspai Cuina i Mar in l'Ametlla de Mar, combining tourism, training and sustainability. Projects such as theAula Blava, linked to the Espai del Peix in Palamós, will also be developed, along with new agritourism routes in the Baix Llobregat Agricultural Park, Aitona and the Vall de Sió.

New routes and experiences to enjoy the territory on foot or by bike

The project Fruiturisme will be strengthened with a new 11-kilometre route that can be walked or cycled through the fruit orchards of Aitona. In the Vall de Sió, a food route will be created to explore the area's heritage by bike — vineyards, olive groves and market gardens — including the refurbishment of a building to receive visitors and bike facilities. Finally, Collbató will have an olive oil experience trail with interactive stations combining hiking, cycle tourism and culture around the olive landscape.

The World Region of Gastronomy is an initiative of the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism (IGCAT). Its purpose is to highlight and promote regions that actively contribute to improving people's quality of life, valuing different food cultures, health education, sustainability and culinary innovation. The award lends credibility to regions, as it is granted by an independent international jury of experts from fields such as tourism, culture, hospitality and agriculture. In June 2023 it was announced that the Catalan bid had been chosen to hold this distinction in 2025.

Organisations, stakeholders and individuals in the country from the production, restaurant or food-and-wine tourism sectors who wish to join this initiative can do so via the website www.somgastronomia.cat.