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	IGCAT Newsletter April 2017

	IGCAT Voice

International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017 has been designated by the United Nation as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. This is a remarkable moment and an important recognition for tourism. The nomination has three key messages for us: it highlights that tourism is an effective tool for development. it reminds us that we should strive to develop and manage tourism in a way that balances economic competitiveness with social, cultural and environmental responsibility. it signals to us that tourism is an instrument for achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the UN agency responsible for the promotion of sustainable and accessible tourism has been advocating this for a long time. According to UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, “Tourism is a major driver of our new socio-economic model…Tourism means jobs, business opportunities for small and medium enterprises, the renewal of urban and rural areas and, if properly managed, the preservation and promotion of a country’s natural and cultural heritage.” (Madrid Spain, 23 January 2013). This is the spirit in which we should think about our tourism destination and our tourism business. Tourism has a global GDP contribution of 10%, supports one in every 11 jobs worldwide and accounts for 30% of services exports. It is big business so, to make sure that tourism fulfils its full potential, those of us working in and with tourism, must all take some time this year to consider: how can we make our operation even more sustainable now and for the future? In what practical ways can we encourage sustainable production and consumption patterns in our operations? how can we conserve and sustainably use our sea and other water resources? how can we leverage culture and use local food and gastronomic innovations as part of our tourism experience offering? IGCAT experts are committed to sharing experiences and good practices to resolve these challenges and is pleased that the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development has highlighted the importance of our work. Dr Edith M Szivas Tourism Strategy Expert

	IGCAT News

East Lombardy officially launches European Region of Gastronomy 2017  March 10, 2017 -  The official launch of East Lombardy, European Region of Gastronomy 2017 took place on Monday, 6 March in the framework of Identità Golose Milano, the most important Italian congress dedicated to high cuisine. Every year this event brings together producers to demonstrate their delicacies and attracts many important chefs and pastry chefs, however this year, the event was special... Read More

Riga-Gauja – European Region of Gastronomy 2017 Grand Opening January 1, 2017 - Engines on, Riga-Gauja region (Latvia) is on the starting line, ready to launch its year as 2017 European Region of Gastronomy. The first Riga Street Food Festival – Winter Edition is the unique and unprecedented gourmet event chosen for the grand opening, inaugurating a series of exciting ... Read More

European Sweets Itineraries – End or Beginning? February 10, 2017 - The European Sweets Itineraries (ESI) is a European project co-funded by the European COSME programme which aims to offer new educational itineraries for international VETs schools through the production of local sweets in regional areas of Portugal, Italy, and Spain, tested by ... Read More

Redefining Sustainability at 2017 Parabere Forum March 7, 2017 - IGCAT took part in the 3rd edition of the Parabere Forum, held on 5-6 March 2017 at the historical building of the University of Barcelona. As “an independent international platform featuring women’s views and voices on major food issues,” Parabere Forum “is committed to improving the state of... Read More

Food, tourism and sustainability as drivers for regional development January 25, 2017 - Policy-leaders from eight European Regions of Gastronomy engaged in a discussion concerning Food, tourism, and sustainability as drivers for regional development on 24 January 2017 in Athens. The Round Table, aimed at exchanging views about real challenges and lessons learnt, was moderated ...  Read More

Young Chefs commit to support regional food and cultural diversity Dr. Diane Dodd, President of IGCAT and Stamatis Misomikes, winner of the European Young Chef Award 2016 signed today a protocol that signals the start of a new initiative to grow a network of IGCAT Regional Chef Ambassadors. Following the successful first edition of the European Young Chef Award, whereby ten talented chefs from different European regions competed, using local products and innovating on traditional recipes, nine young finalists... Read More

Strengths and challenges for Regions of Gastronomy!  January 28, 2017 - The Regions of Gastronomy celebrated their 10th partner meeting on Rhodes island in the South Aegean region of Greece on 26 and 27 January 2017. The meeting gathered representatives of ten European regions that have committed to the principles of working in a Platform, organised by IGCAT to support sustainable... Read More

South Aegean and Sibiu awarded European Region of Gastronomy 2019 January 25, 2017 - Jointly nominated to receive the European Region of Gastronomy  2019 award by an independent jury, Sibiu (Romania) and South Aegean  (Greece) received the 2019 title for their commitment to food and cultural diversity. A special  Ceremony  took place... Read More

Encouraging innovation, cultural diversity, and sustainability January 25, 2017 - IGCAT’s proposal to develop innovative souvenirs, is being put to the test by European Regions of Gastronomy. A pilot international competition took place on 25 January 2017 at the Electra Metropolis Hotel in Athens.Eight Regions of Gastronomy Platform partners brought samples of innovative souvenirs, identified as hand-made or artisanal products... Read More

The Wine Lab – Generating innovation between practice and research January 18, 2017 - Dr. Alessio Cavicchi, IGCAT´s International Expert from Italy,  is leading a new EU university-business project called The Wine Lab. It is widely recognised that small wineries achieve better performance when they are networked or clustered, but often firms located in areas that are geographically... Read More

	Current News From Around The Globe

Gastronomy Network project in Jamaica March 27, 2017 - The Jamaica Blue Mountain Tour will be one of the first projects of the Gastronomy Network, which was created with the intention to foster the growth of culinary tourism as a product niche for Jamaica. The rich history, culture and cuisine of the Blue Mountain region were on full ... Read More

Mozambique - Sustainable Tourism March 10, 2017 - Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on Monday urged the countries bathed by the Indian Ocean to work together to transform tourism into a profitable, sustainable and inclusive industry. In this way, he argued, a dynamic would emerge from tourism products and services which could be a driving force in the growth of the economies... Read More

Food World Invited to Nominate Chef March 6, 2017 - Nominations for an international award billed as the 'Nobel Prize' of the food world are open. Organizers of the Basque Culinary World Prize are inviting professionals in the industry be it chefs, food writers, food suppliers or institutions to nominate a chef who has "improved society through gastronomy." Launched last year out by the... Read More

Cuisine of Peru’s a Model of Slow Food March 15, 2017 - Local produce, traditional methods, distinctive flavors, and dishes that can take days to prepare are key elements of the cuisine in southern Peru's Tacna region, embodying the principles of the three-decade-old Slow Food Movement. The signature dish, a stew called picante a la tacneña, which can … Read More

We must explore India’s forgotten recipes March 1, 2017 - Food is not just about taste, it is also about nutrition, safety and biodiversity. Speaking at the ‘Tasting India Symposium’—a brainchild of Sanjoo Malhotra and Sourish Bhattacharyya—at the India International Centre on February 28, Sunita Narain, director, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), raised concern over growing obesity and the inclination to … Read More

“No future for quality local products" February 15, 2017 - On February 15 the European Parliament was called upon to ratify—virtually without any debate—the free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada (CETA), signed on October 13 of last year. If the text (1,600 pages of clauses to be approved or rejected en masse) passes, much of CETA will come into … Read More

International Fund For Cultural Diversity April 3, 2017 - The UNESCO International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD) supports projects that are consistent with the overall objective of the IFCD, and which cover the following areas of intervention that lead to structural change: the introduction and/or elaboration of policies and strategies that have a direct effect … Read More

World’s best chefs in Melbourne  March 16, 2017 - More than 200 of the most influential members of the global restaurant industry will visit Australia for a diverse program of events next month, including the gala awards night which will be held at Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building on the evening of 5 April 2017. The group of media and influencers who chair the voting panel will also visit South Australia from 6 to 8 April… Read More