Italian cuisine makes history as the first culinary system in the world to be recognized in its entirety by UNESCO. The Intergovernmental Committee meeting in New Delhi unanimously approved its inclusion in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, sparking a prolonged applause in the room. This victory was achieved among 60 nominations from 56 countries.
Much more than just recipes
The recognition celebrates Italian cuisine as a "cultural and social blend of culinary traditions," a universe that transcends ingredients and techniques. According to UNESCO, cooking Italian-style is "a way to care for oneself and others, express love, and rediscover one's cultural roots." It's a practice that offers communities a space to share stories and describe the world around them.
The organization emphasizes how this tradition "fosters social inclusion, promotes well-being, and creates a channel for lifelong intergenerational learning." Cooking thus becomes a community activity that emphasizes intimacy with food, respect for ingredients, and moments shared around the table.
The pride of Palazzo Chigi
"This recognition for Italian cuisine fills us with pride," said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. "We are the first in the world to receive this recognition, which honors who we are and our identity. For us Italians, cuisine is more than just food or a collection of recipes. It's much more: it's culture, tradition, work, and wealth."
The Prime Minister highlighted the economic implications of this leadership: "It gives us a formidable tool to further enhance the value of our products and protect them more effectively from imitations and unfair competition." The numbers speak for themselves: Italy already exports €70 billion in agri-food products and is Europe's leading economy in terms of agricultural added value.
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Anti-waste recipes and handed down knowledge
The nomination dossier, edited by jurist Pier Luigi Petrillo, convinced UNESCO by highlighting the unique characteristics of the Italian culinary tradition. The practice is rooted in anti-waste recipes and the transmission of flavors, skills, and memories across generations. A multigenerational dimension where roles are "perfectly interchangeable," allowing everyone to enjoy an individual and collective experience that transcends intercultural and intergenerational barriers.
UNESCO recognized "the significant efforts made by communities over the last sixty years," particularly by organizations such as the magazine La Cucina Italiana, the Italian Academy of Cuisine, and the Casa Artusi Foundation.
World record in the agri-food sector
With this new addition, Italy holds the world record for UNESCO recognitions in the agri-food sector in proportion to the total intangible cultural heritage obtained. Of the 21 Italian traditions inscribed on the List, nine are related to agri-food: in addition to Italian cuisine, they include the art of Neapolitan pizza makers, transhumance (transhumance), the construction of dry stone walls in agriculture, the cultivation of the alberello vine of the Pantelleria Zibibbo grape, the Mediterranean diet, truffle hunting, traditional irrigation systems, and the breeding of Lipizzan horses.
A heritage that represents the profound identity of a country where food is culture, memory, and future.
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