WORLD GASTRONOMY SUMMIT programme overview

Organised by IGCAT and hosted by the Autonomous Government of Catalonia, World Region of Gastronomy awarded 2025, the 1st World Gastronomy Summit will take place in Palau Pedralbes in Barcelona, on 27 September 2025.

Programme Overview

08.15h – 09.00h

REGISTRARIONS
INSCRIPCIONS


09.00h

OPENING THE 1ST WORLD GASTRONOMY SUMMIT
INAUGURACIÓ DE LA 1A CIMERA MUNDIAL DE LA GASTRONOMIA


09.10h

WELCOME FROM CATALONIA, WORLD REGION OF GASTRONOMY 2025
BENVINGUDA A CATALUNYA, REGION MUNDIAL DE LA GASTRONOMÍA 2025

 

09.20h

UNESCO’S ENGAGEMENT IN SAFEGUARDING FOODWAYS AS LIVING HERITAGE
EL COMPROMÍS DE LA UNESCO EN LA SALVAGUARDA DELS FOODWAYS COM A PATRIMONI VIU

 

09.30h

UN TOURISM FOR PEOPLE, PLANET, AND PROSPERITY
TURISME DE LES NACIONES UNIDES PER A LES PERSONES, EL PLANETA I LA PROSPERITAT


09.40h

GASTRONOMIC CHALLENGES
GASTRONOMIA, REPTES I OPORTUNITATS


09.50h

A YOUNG PERSPECTIVE ON CATALAN CUISINE, HERITAGE AND ITS FUTURE
UNA PERSPECTIVA JOVE SOBRE LA CUINA CATALANA, EL SEU PATRIMONI I EL SEU FUTUR

 

10.00h–11.15h PLENARY 1

FOOD AT THE HEART OF CULTURE: A NEW PARADIGM FOR POLICY AND PRACTICE
L’ALIMENTACIÓ AL COR DE LA CULTURA: UN NOU PARADIGMA PER A LA POLÍTICA I LA PRÀCTICA

This plenary session, moderated by Dr. Edith Szivas Vice-President IGCAT, will explore the transformative potential of placing food at the heart of cultural, social, and environmental agendas. As the world faces growing challenges around sustainability, identity, and community well-being, there is a pressing need to rethink the role of food beyond nutrition and commerce. Inspired by the Food Strategy for Catalonia 2025-2028, this discussion will present a new paradigm for policy and practice, showcasing how food can serve as a connector across sectors such as agriculture, education, tourism, and environmental protection. The session will also examine how gastronomy can drive innovation and creativity, promote regional distinctiveness, and support food and cultural sovereignty.

The invited speakers from across the globe —ranging from policymakers and institutional leaders to grassroots innovators and international advocates—will provide a rich tapestry of perspectives to inspire integrated, forward-thinking approaches that recognize food as a vital pillar of cultural development. Speakers will share experiences from diverse regional and cultural contexts, offering practical examples of how food strategies can contribute to preserving cultural heritage, building resilient rural economies, empowering youth, and fostering inclusion.

 
11.15h – 12.00h Health Break | Pausa
 

12.00h – 13.15h | PLENARY 2

THE CULTURAL VALUE OF FOOD: SHAPING FUTURE POLICIES
EL VALOR CULTURAL DE L’ALIMENTACIÓ: DONANT FORMA A LES POLÍTIQUES FUTURES

This plenary session, moderated by Omar Valdez, IGCAT Board, will examine the cultural value of food and its critical role in shaping future policies for healthier, more inclusive, and resilient societies. Recognizing food as more than a commodity, the discussion will explore how culinary heritage, traditional foodways, and local knowledge systems contribute to cultural identity, community well-being, and sustainability. Inspired by the Food and Wine Tourism Plan 2022-27 in Catalonia, topics will deepen further to include the preservation of intangible cultural heritage, the integration of food in European cultural programmes, the links between nutrition, education, and public health, and the importance of protecting biodiversity and traditional seeds.

Speakers from international organizations, cultural networks, NGOs, and research institutions will share forward-thinking strategies and policy recommendations that affirm food as a powerful cultural and educational tool. By bringing together voices from different regions and sectors across the globe, the session will offer a comprehensive and interdisciplinary view of how food policies can evolve to support cultural diversity, social cohesion, and long-term resilience.

 

13.15h – 14.30h Lunch Break | Pausa per dinar
 

14.30h-16.00h

WORLD CAFÉ | CAFÈ DEL MÓN

16 round tables strategising how to elevate gastronomy within international cultural policy frameworks, with a view to influencing the global MONDIACULT agenda. Each table has a provocateur, a host and a rapporteur.

 

Table 1 – Feeding Our Imagination: Gastronomy in the Creative Economy
Taula 1 – Alimentant la nostra imaginació: la gastronomia en l’economia creativa (idioma principal: anglès)

Utopia: In 2050, chefs, artists, and storytellers collaborate seamlessly, and gastronomy is recognized globally as a cultural artform, embedded in school curricula and cultural policies.

Dystopia: By 2050, culinary creativity has been homogenized by algorithm-driven menus and synthetic flavors, and food is no longer a space for imagination or expression.

 
Table 2 – Tasting Diversity and celebrating biodiversity in our food
Taula 2 – Tastant la diversitat i celebrant la biodiversitat en el nostre menjar (idioma principal: anglès)

Utopia: In 2050, pollinators thrive thanks to biodiversity-friendly agriculture, and every meal celebrates this living biodiversity, with indigenous ingredients, diverse crops, and revived recipes.

Dystopia: Pollinators have vanished, and agriculture is dominated by global monocultures. 80% of people eat only five crops, and culinary diversity survives only in museums and digital archives, while ecosystems collapse.

 

Table 3 – Feeding Curiosity: Creative Tourism Strategies Rooted in Gastronomy
Taula 3 – Alimentant la curiositat: estratègies de turisme creatiu arrelades en la gastronomia (idioma principal: anglès)

Utopia: Gastronomic tourism in 2050 is slow, immersive, and community-led, connecting visitors with local stories, producers, and landscapes.

Dystopia: Tourists consume “local experiences” via virtual headsets, never leaving global food courts designed to simulate culture.

 

Table 4 – Nurturing Creativity and Innovation in the Food Sector
Taula 4 – Fomentant la creativitat i la innovació en el sector alimentari (idioma principal: anglès)

Utopia: Food labs across regions experiment with sustainable ingredients, cultural fusion, and low-waste design, making innovation accessible to all.

Dystopia: A handful of tech companies patent all food innovation, stifling creativity and marginalizing traditional knowledge.

 

Table 5 – Heritage in the Soil: Safeguarding Traditional Crops for Regional Identity and Well-being
Taula 5 – El patrimoni a la terra: salvaguardar els cultius tradicionals per a la identitat regional i el benestar (idioma principal: anglès)

Utopia: Heirloom seeds are protected and thriving in diverse climates, forming the backbone of regional economies and diets.

Dystopia: Climate change and corporate patents have wiped out traditional crops; communities are disconnected from their agricultural heritage.

 

Table 6 – Edible Destinations: Strengthening Regions Through Gastronomy and the Arts
Taula 6 – Destinacions comestibles: enfortir les regions a través de la gastronomia i les arts (idioma principal: anglès)

Utopia: In 2050, regions are celebrated for their edible cultures, where gastronomy and the arts form the soul of regenerative rural development.

Dystopia: Gastronomic identity is reduced to branding exercises for mass tourism, with little benefit to local artists or farmers.

 

Table 7 – Savouring Food Culture and Tourism Innovation in the Creative Economy
Taula 7 – Gaudir de la cultura alimentària i la innovació turística en l’economia creativa (idioma principal: anglès)

Utopia: Food culture tourism is co-designed with local communities, promoting deep connections and creative exchanges across borders.

Dystopia: Culinary tourism is dictated by influencers and AI trends, leaving local traditions exploited and misrepresented.

 

Table 8 – Consumption Consciousness: Cultural Awareness Shaping Responsible Consumption
Taula 8 – Consciència del consum: la consciència cultural que modela un consum responsible (idioma principal: anglès)

Utopia: Citizens make mindful food choices guided by cultural respect, planetary boundaries, and social equity.

Dystopia: Hyper-consumerism persists, masked by greenwashing campaigns and cultural erasure in global food supply chains.

 

Table 9 – Feeding Curiosity: Creative Strategies to Raise Local Food Awareness
Taula 9 – Alimentar la curiositat: estratègies creatives per augmentar la consciència sobre l’alimentació local (idioma principal: anglès)

Utopia: In 2050, communities proudly engage in food storytelling, public markets are hubs of education, and children grow up knowing where their food comes from.

Dystopia: Food knowledge is outsourced to apps, and fewer people than ever can identify, grow, or cook local produce.

 

Table 10 – Educating for a More Environmentally-Friendly Food Future
Taula 10 – Educar per a un futur alimentari més respectuós amb el medi ambient (idioma principal: anglès)

Utopia: Education inspires sustainable food choices, leading to clean, circular, and waste-free food systems.

Dystopia: Lack of awareness fuels destructive food systems, where clean, healthy food becomes a luxury.

 

Table 11 – Food as a Catalyst for Solidarity: Building Inclusive and Equitable Food Systems
Taula 11 – L’alimentació com a catalitzador de solidaritat: construir sistemes alimentaris inclusius i equitatius (idioma principal: anglès)

Utopia: Food systems in 2050 are guided by justice, where all communities have agency, access, and dignity in their food choices.

Dystopia: Hunger persists amid abundance, and food aid is used as a tool for political control rather than empowerment.

 

Table 12 – Ciudadanía empoderada – Sistemas alimentarios en nuestras manos (Español)
Taula 12 – Table 12: Empowering citizens – Food Systems in Our Hands (Spanish)

Utopía: En 2050, la ciudadanía decida sobre sus sistemas alimentarios, con huertos, mercados y cooperativas que garantizan alimentos sanos y sostenibles.
Distopía: La población se alimenta con comida barata, envasada y producida en masa, cargada de químicos; las personas son consumidoras pasivas sin opciones reales.

 

Table 13 – The Power of the Plate: Storytelling and New Narratives
Taula 13 – El poder del plat: narrativa i nous relats (idioma principal: anglès)

Utopia: Every food package in 2050 tells a story of place, memory, and culture—shared and celebrated in schools, media, and markets.

Dystopia: The power of storytelling is lost; food is anonymized, stripped of meaning, and reduced to nutrient labels.

 

Taula 14 – Del bosc I els camps fruiters al plat: protegir la biodiversitat i els hàbitats naturals

Table 14 – From Forest and orchards to Plate: Protecting Biodiversity and Natural Habitats (Principal language: Catalan)

Utopia: Els boscos catalans són gestionats de forma sostenible i nodreixen les taules locals amb ingredients únics i saludables.

Dystopia: Els hàbitats naturals han desaparegut sota l’especulació urbana i la desconnexió entre societat i territory.

 

Taula 15 –  Reivindicant el gust: com els consumidors poden revifar les tradicions gastronòmiques
Table 15 – Reclaiming Taste: How Consumers Can Revive Gastronomic Traditions (Principal language: Catalan)

Utopia: El paladar del consumidor s’ha convertit en una força per protegir tradicions, sabors i productes autòctons.

Dystopia: Els gustos han estat uniformitzats per la indústria global, i les tradicions gastronòmiques són només folklore escenificat.

 

Taula 16 –  Gastronomía sense productors?
Table 16 – Gastronomy Without Producers? (Principal language: Catalan)

Utopia: El 2050, els petits productors són els guardians del territori i protagonistes de l’oferta gastronòmica.

Dystopia: La cuina regional sobreviu com a espectacle sense ànima, mentre els productors han desaparegut per manca de sup

 

16.00h – 16.40h Health Break | Pausa
 

16.40h-17.20h

REPORT BACK SESSION
SESSIÓ DE RETORN D’INFORMES

 

17.20h-17.35h

TASTE GRAND TOUR OF CATALONIA
TASTA EL GRAN TOUR DE CATALUNYA

 

17.35h

ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEXT YEAR’S WORLD GASTRONOMY SUMMIT
ANUNCI DE LA CIMERA MUNDIAL DE GASTRONOMIA DE L’ANY VINENT

 

17.40h – 17.50h

WORLD GASTRONOMY SUMMIT CONCLUSIONS AND DECLARATION
CONCLUSIONS I DECLARACIÓ DE LA CIMERA MUNDIAL DE GASTRONOMIA

 

17.50h – 17.55h

TOWARDS MONDIACULT 2025: A GLOBAL CALL TO RECOGNISE FOOD AS CULTURE
CAP A MONDIACULT 2025: UNA CRIDA GLOBAL PER RECONÈIXER L’ALIMENTACIÓ COM A CULTURA

 
18.00h

CLOSING REMARKS
CLOENDA

 

18.05h

TRIO INTERLUDE WITH CAVA & CATALAN COCA
TRIO MUSICAL AMB CAVA & COCA CATALANA

 

19.00h

FOOD FILM MENU 2025 CATEGORY GALA AWARDS
PREMIS DE LA FOOD FILM MENU 2025

 

20:30h

GALA DINNER
SOPAR DE GALA

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World Region of Gastronomy
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