Award

An independent and international panel of IGCAT experts spanning different sectors assess the regions’ potential to be awarded.

The panel of experts is chosen from different fields of competence including tourism, culture, hospitality, environment, heritage and agriculture underlining the need for cross-sectorial collaboration throughout the region in order to find solutions to today’s challenges.

The Award provides the occasion for communities to work together towards a shared objective and, therefore ensures great benefits in terms of local cohesion.

Raising citizen awareness about the food they eat, the value of local products and the need to innovate in order to protect local produce are key areas of the programme. Therefore, the project is not just concerned with attracting visitors to the region but also in the longer-term benefits by educating for better and healthier lifestyles and supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Benefits

Showcase

the region´s distinct cultural and food assets internationally by giving visibility to traditional food ways

Catalyst

for development in the region through the regional stakeholder group

Build regional identity

and pride in local citizens with regard to distinct cultural and food assets

Support local economies

by stimulating public and private sector funding potential

Awareness of wider food issues

for healthy living and sustainability both through educational programs and wider citizen engagement projects

Focus on innovation and learning

to support smart growth and thus provide new skills and new opportunities for SMEs

Encourage

the use, promotion and innovation of local food products

Environmental protection

and protecting biodiversity

Sustainable tourism

improving the quality of products and hospitality provision in the region