Objectives

The Association for the Protection of Gastronomic Heritage (APPG, in Spanish for Asociación para la Protección del Patrimonio Gastronómico) was founded with the objectives of identifying, recovering, protecting, and promoting the gastronomic heritage of communities as a fundamental expression of their cultural identity, thus preventing its erosion and loss. Our mission is firmly aligned with the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, focusing our efforts on safeguarding traditional culinary practices and knowledge, intrinsically linked to the history, traditions, culture, and landscapes of villages, communities and peoples. With the aim of valuing this heritage as an identifying resource and a catalyst for sustainable development, especially in rural areas where its conservation is most significant and vulnerable, we have developed the international certification seal "Protected Gastronomic Heritage – PGP (in Spanish for Patrimonio Gastronómico Protegido)". This distinctive mark seeks to offer a framework for protection and promotion, transforming this legacy into an opportunity for local development that contributes to its preservation. With a holistic vision, we understand that culinary expressions are the manifestation of the gastronomic heritages. Consequently, the protection of these manifestations entails the safeguarding of the landscapes that nurture them, the biodiversity that sustains them, the traditional agricultural practices that originate them, the cultural and historical richness that surrounds them, the ancestral knowledge that defines them, and the complex relationships that are established between the communities and the environment that surrounds them.

Cooperation

APPG establishes an active and direct collaboration with communities, groups and individuals who create, practice and transmit intangible gastronomic cultural heritage through various strategies: Organization and participation in dissemination days: In collaboration with diplomatic organizations, tourism promotion entities and other public and private institutions, APPG organizes and participates in dissemination days dedicated to intangible cultural heritage related to gastronomy. These initiatives provide university students (including, among others, those from member universities) and the general public with the opportunity to learn first-hand about the characteristics of gastronomic heritage, traditional elaboration techniques, their deep connection with local culture and the crucial importance of their safeguarding. Direct collaboration with local actors: APPG works closely with local communities, artisan producers, chefs and restaurants in the identification and protection of their gastronomic heritage. Our PGP certification process is intrinsically participatory, involving communities in all stages, from initial documentation to promotion and valorization strategies. Promotion of active participation: We actively organize and participate in workshops, culinary demonstrations and events that promote the direct participation of the bearers of culinary traditions. These platforms allow the transmission of ancestral knowledge, the exchange of experiences and the strengthening of networks among heritage practitioners. Return of benefits to communities: Through the design and promotion of our sustainable tourist routes and the implementation of the Interactive Digital Atlas of Gastronomic Heritage Experiences, APPG ensures that the economic and social benefits generated by the valorization of heritage revert directly to local communities. This approach promotes their sustainable development and strengthens their capacity to continue transmitting their cultural legacy to future generations.