UNESCO has declared Italian gastronomy as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This official status was ratified by the organization's Intergovernmental Committee during a session held in New Delhi, India, according to the Argentine News Agency. Italy's Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests confirmed that the inscription on the Representative List was approved for its culinary practices, gastronomic qualities, and its social and historical role as a community tradition that transmits culture, flavors, and techniques from generation to generation. According to UNESCO, Italian gastronomy constitutes a cultural and social expression that integrates specific raw materials, artisanal preparation techniques, and a lifestyle that allows sharing history, identity, and ways of relating to the environment. "For us Italians, cooking is not just food or a collection of recipes: it is culture, tradition, work, and well-being," the statement affirmed. In turn, Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida stated that the distinction is a "collective prize" for all of Italian society, from the families who transmit ancestral flavors to the farmers, producers, and restaurateurs who keep the country's culinary identity alive. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalled that the nomination had been sent to UNESCO in 2023. The organization also highlighted that these practices help to preserve cultural expressions such as language, gestures, and rituals. In a message to the UNESCO committee, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni celebrated the recognition as a "historic achievement" that honors the Italian people and highlights "a lifestyle admired worldwide." This distinction comes at a time when Italy's agri-food sector recorded record exports of 68 billion euros in 2024, an increase of over 8%, and in the first eight months of 2025, they grew again by 6%, reflecting the growing global demand for Italian products.
