Catalonia, World Region of Gastronomy 2025

The new year marks the start of a series of activities linked to the distinction that Catalonia receives as a World Region of Gastronomy, a candidacy promoted by the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food together with the Department of Business and Employment that will involve the launch of a series of initiatives with the aim of placing Catalonia as a world reference for wine and gastronomy. Within the framework of this event, the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food will promote two initiatives to highlight the productive sector and the heritage of Catalan gastronomy through two specific lines of aid: "12 months - 12 gastronomic landscapes" and "Hero products from the heritage pantry".

The "12 months - 12 gastronomic landscapes" project will claim the territorial diversity of Catalonia by exploring the culinary wealth that flourishes in each of the twelve seasons of the year. This initiative highlights the importance of celebrating and preserving local gastronomic traditions, adapting to seasonal changes and highlighting the diversity of local ingredients. By merging the seasonality of food and gastronomy, the project not only promotes food sustainability, but also strengthens the connection between land, culture and the Catalan table.

During these 12 months of 2025, activities will be carried out that will focus on the 12 agro-food landscapes that define the Catalan territory. The actions to be developed are proposed by local entities in each territory and are carried out in coordination between these entities, the catering industry in the area and the Generalitat of Catalonia. The actions carried out by local government entities and local action groups will be subsidised, and up to 250,000 euros will be granted per landscape/month.

On the other hand, the project "Hero products from the pantry of gastronomic heritage" aims to involve the most representative producing sectors of our gastronomic heritage in the celebration of the distinction so that they think about what needs they have as a sector and find a common project to satisfy them. Each of the sectors must propose and design a project that links their product and traditional Catalan gastronomy, which will be developed during the year 2025, but which is intended to last over time and have a positive impact on both producers and catering. The actions carried out by the associations/entities representing the agri-food and gastronomic sectors, the chambers of commerce and the regulatory councils of DOP and IGP will be subsidized, and up to 150,000 euros will be granted per product.

During this month of January, the call for applications to access these two specific lines of the World Gastronomy Region will be opened. The two lines are part of the aid for the promotion and protection of Catalan gastronomy, which are presented with eight lines of aid that aim to improve the identity and self-esteem of food, and also offer accompaniment and support to projects to value Catalan dishes and those that promote and disseminate the essential role of traditional Catalan gastronomy in the food identity of our country.

The aid for the promotion of gastronomy is aligned with the Food Strategy of Catalonia.

More information at: https://agricultura.gencat.cat/ca/ambits/alimentacio/gastronomia/ajuts-gastronomia/