1st World Gastronomy Summit 2025

The 1st World Gastronomy Summit organised by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism (IGCAT) and hosted by the Autonomous Government of Catalonia, World Region of Gastronomy 2025 aims to foster dialogue and collaboration across sectors, support food sovereignty by empowering communities to regain control over their food systems by celebrating the cultural and social value of food. The summit will raise awareness of global challenges and position gastronomy as a key driver of sustainable regional development.

The World Gastronomy Summit will bring together over 160 policymakers, cultural leaders, academic and institutional partners from around the world (Asia, Africa, the Americas, the Pacific, Oceania, the Middle East and Europe). It will be a landmark international event culminating in the World Gastronomy Summit Declaration on Food at the Heart of Cultural Policy and Community Well-being that will be delivered to MONDIACULT 2025 on 29 September 2025, and we would be honoured to count on your voice among those shaping this collective commitment.

The World Gastronomy Summit and the Declaration (that was approved by IGCAT’s members in their Annual General Meeting on 10 June 2025) represent a unifying call to action to recognise food not only as a vital component of our cultural identity, but also as a bridge between regions, sectors and communities.

Declaration: Food at the Heart of Cultural Policy and Community Well-being

This declaration represents a unifying call to action to recognise food not only as a vital component of our cultural identity, but also as a bridge between regions, sectors and communities. The declaration will officially be signed at the World Gastronomy Summit. 

The Crop Trust is a supporting institution of the declaration. 

Read more on the declaration

Crop Trust Engagement

11.30h – 12.30h | PLENARY 2

THE CULTURAL VALUE OF FOOD: SHAPING FUTURE POLICIES

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.

Follow along live:

World Gastronomy Summit 2025

 Start time: 08:45h CEST