"UPVIVIUM – Zero km Gastronomic Biosphere" 2022 Competition
In the context of its prerogatives and general objectives of sustainability, the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme aims to convey and promote the values of sustainability contained in traditional, good, healthy and clean agricultural practices and in gastronomy based on the flavours and cultures originating in the Biosphere Reserves all over the planet. Since most of the 726 Biosphere Reserves in the world are located in rural areas, this theme is essential for the conservation of the environment, landscape and cultural values and also the well-being of the agriculture, tourism, economy and employment of local populations.
For this purpose, the “Isole di Toscana” Biosphere Reserve has included the "UPVIVUM - 0 KM Gastronomic Biosphere" project in its Action Plan with the aim of enhancing the traditional agro-food production of the Archipelago, stimulating forms of sustainable gastronomy and strengthening cooperation between the tourism sector, the world of catering and producers/farmers and fishermen, reducing the impacts associated with the food supply chain.
For Biosphere Reserves, especially in Italy, the culture of food is closely connected to that of sustainability, which is why it is important that they are managed not only in relation to the management and reduction of the environmental impact of the agri-food chains, but also in consideration of the fact that typical products and dishes are an expression of the local gastronomic culture and economy. Biosphere Reserves must aspire to be areas where sustainable lifestyles are consolidated and where gastronomy is also based on the balanced use of products and their reuse in the best traditional, as well as in innovative and experimental, recipes.
Previous competitions (2018 and 2019) of the "UPVIVUM - 0 KM Gastronomic Biosphere" featured restaurateurs and producers/breeders/fishermen from five Italian UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserves, “Appennino Tosco Emiliano”, “Delta Po”, “Alpi Ledrensi e Judicaria, “Sila” and “Isole di Toscana”, and achieved excellent results especially, in terms of visibility and appreciation by the local community and tourists. The winner of the 2019 UPVIVIUM competition was the "Isole di Toscana" MAB UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with Gabriele Messina's dish from Lido Market in Capoliveri.
The 2022 competition includes an initial "local" phase, in which restaurateurs and agri-food producers from the Tuscan Archipelago will compete against each other to determine the winner for the "Isole di Toscana". Thereafter, the winner will compete in a national final between all the winners of the Biosphere Reserve partners in the project, “Appennino Tosco Emiliano”, “Delta Po”, “Alpi Ledrensi e Judicaria, “Sila”, "Monte Grappa" and "Valcamonica".
The local "Isole di Toscana" phase, scheduled for the weekends between June 3rd and July 3rd, will see teams of restaurateurs and agri-food producers from the Archipelago competing to create a dish, first course, second course, single dish or dessert, mainly based on products from the Tuscan Archipelago and in which at least one wild herb and seasonal aromatic plant are celebrated. The dish must be accompanied by local wines, beers or soft drinks. Members of the public will be able to vote for their favourite dish via the Biosphere Reserve Facebook page and the most voted restaurants for each Island will judged by a jury of experts appointed by the National Park, who will decree the winning UPVIVIUM dish, restaurant and team of producers for the “Isole di Toscana” Biosphere Reserve.
These will then enter the national final - which will be held on 30 November 2022 at the headquarters of ALMA, the prestigious International School of Italian Cuisine in Colorno (PR) - where they will compete against similar teams of chefs and producers from five other Italian Biosphere Reserves.
Per avere maggiori informazioni:
- partecipa alla giornata formativa che si terrà presso la sede del Parco Nazionale il 5 maggio 2022 alle ore 10.00 (o in alternativa chiedi il link per il collegamento online a miarelli@islepark.it);
- contattare la referente di progetto Dott.ssa Carolina Miarelli (miarelli@islepark.it – 0565919464 - 3312691628) presso l’Ufficio Promozione del Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano.
