To protect and enhance Bolognese cuisine in the world as a unique heritage, for the contents it expresses directly, for the close relationships it presents with the history of the territory, with the social, cultural and entrepreneurial fabric and for the value of the agri-food sector on which it is regge, the Metropolitan City of Bologna launches the candidacy process of the “Bolognese gastronomic culture” known all over the world at UNESCO.
From 4 April 2018, the date that officially marks the decision of the Mayor Virginio Merola and the Metropolitan City to undertake the candidacy process, an ad hoc working group has been set up, under the scientific direction of Prof. Andrea Segrè and coordinated by the Head of Cabinet of the Metropolitan City Giuseppe De Biasi.
The group carried out a wide-ranging study, consulting the many realities of the sector present in the area from which a final document emerged which constitutes the “Project for the activation of the Tentative List”, an indispensable premise to start the candidacy of the site for UNESCO ” Bolognese Gastronomic Culture ”which coincides with the entire territory of the metropolitan city of Bologna.
The reasons for the candidacy
That the Bolognese gastronomic culture represents a priceless asset, a unique asset is obvious considering the thousands of testimonies that pervade our kitchen, our processing industry and the close relationship between the field and the table. Here the word agri-food takes on a unique meaning and the sector is a solid pillar of the economy of the metropolitan city of Bologna and one of the most advanced systems at an international level for its ability to create a continuous relationship between man, land and technology.
To strongly affirm the authenticity of these values, an authoritative voice is needed that is able to transmit it to future generations, a voice capable of facing the new economic, social and environmental challenges imposed by globalization, prepared to support the difficult challenges on the culture of food and on food-related lifestyles as clearly stated in the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.
A research carried out by the Study Group to support the motivations for the candidacy found that the term “Bolognese” actually represents a real “brand” that is commercially exploited in every corner of the world, now without any limit.
The “Bolognese sounding” is a disruptive phenomenon today framed in the broader phenomenon of “Italian Sounding”, which is implemented in all corners of the world: this practice represents the most striking form of unfair competition and fraud against Italian consumers and producers , especially in the agri-food and catering sector.
The behaviors of “Bolognese sounding” are however considered lawful and not legally prosecutable in almost all countries in the world.
The fame of the “Bolognese” brand also depends on the success of “Spaghetti alla bolognese”: which does not mean that we must give legitimacy to this phenomenon (the only ones to gain are the multinationals of food and catering).
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