With this accreditation, APPG will be able to participate as an advisory body in processes related to the evaluation, protection, and safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, contributing expert knowledge, proprietary methodologies, and proven experience in cultural preservation initiatives. This consultative role will enable the Association to collaborate in the analysis of nominations, programs, and good practices, supporting the Intergovernmental Committee’s strategic decision-making.
One of the most significant aspects of this recognition is the international validation of APPG’s “Protected Gastronomic Heritage” (PGP) certification seal. The seal is fully aligned with UNESCO’s standards and values, strengthening its credibility, international reach, and usefulness as a tool to protect gastronomic heritage from cultural homogenization and the erosion of local identity.
UNESCO also highlights APPG’s strategic vision in framing gastronomic heritage not only as a legacy to be preserved, but as a living resource capable of driving sustainable development, social cohesion, and economic opportunities in local communities. In this regard, the accreditation recognizes the Association’s comprehensive approach, which combines research, certification, awareness-raising, and the responsible promotion of intangible cultural heritage.
In the coming weeks, APPG will hold a working meeting with UNESCO representatives to define more precisely the specific functions it will assume as an advisory body, as well as the priority areas for collaboration. This meeting will mark the operational start of a new phase in which joint initiatives, areas of action, and international cooperation opportunities will be identified and developed.
The Association emphasizes that this achievement is the result of a collective effort sustained over time, and of the commitment of all individuals, institutions, and partners who have contributed to the project since its inception. The accreditation also reinforces APPG’s responsibility to act with the highest technical, ethical, and institutional standards in fulfilling its new role.
APPG President Visi González Ramos stated that this recognition “is not an end point, but the beginning of a new stage of greater responsibility, impact, and international reach,” and noted that UNESCO’s accreditation “consolidates the Association’s role as a relevant actor in the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, particularly in the gastronomic field.”
With this accreditation, APPG positions itself as an international benchmark in the defense of gastronomic heritage, strengthening its capacity for influence, its collaborative network, and its contribution to UNESCO’s global objectives for preserving cultural diversity.
