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The FDM participated in the 3rd International Forum Planète Terroirs in Morocco

The Mediterranean Diet Foundation participated from May 31^st to June 2^nd in the 3^rd International Forum Planète Terroirs held in Chefchaouen, Morocco, with the participation of Joan Reguant, Cultural Projects Coordinador.

Organized by “Terroirs et Cultures” and “ATED” (Association Talassementane pour l’Environnement et le Développement) of Morocco, it enjoyed the patronage of UNESCO and the institutional and financial support of the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and Culture and the French Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.

On behalf of Spain there were representatives of the Governments of the Autonomous Communities of the Balearic Islands, Andalusia and Catalonia. The Director General of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. Antoni Díaz, stressed his government’s commitment to both cooperation and support in food cultural heritage, making a special mention to the Mediterranean Diet and its UNESCO nomination. Mr. Francisco Mombiela, as Secretary General of CIHEAM (international Centre for Mediterranean Studies) gave a speech in which he also highlighted the importance of the Mediterranean Diet and hope to achieve its universal recognition by registration in November on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO. In this great capital, resource and cultural heritage shared by all the Mediterranean peoples that is the Mediterranean Diet and the nomination were referred to in the speeches of most Moroccan authorities.

The 3^rd International Forum was attended by over 400 participants from over twenty countries around the world who worked on four themes: diversity, sustainability, “terroirs” and development. Creating a particular route within the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean was discussed that will put the value of natural, cultural and gastronomic heritage in the Mediterranean.

The FDM was involved with the expert Joan Reguant by invitation of the Organization, together with Professor Giuseppe Barbera of the University of Palermo and three French experts, ran the workshop “Comment dynamiser les interventions entre savoir faire, patrimonies locaux et diversité biologique”, presidit per Pablo Eyzaguirre, investigador etnobiologista de Bioversity International.