Food as a Mutual Cultural Heritage in Thrace Region

Food As a Cultural Heritage in Thrace Region is a project supported by European Union under Bulgaria–Turkey IPA Cross-Border Programme to contribute to the protection of natural, cultural and historical heritage values through strengthening cross-border collaboration in promoting the culinary culture of the region and reconnecting traditions in the Thrace region in order to prevent cultural erosion and ensure sustainable development of the region. Culinary tradition, part of cultural heritage of the cross-border region brings identity in the diversity and also diversity in the identity of the region being an important factor for promoting good neighborly relations. Food is a cultural product which brings people together while at the same time reflecting their heritage, manners, and way of life. The project is consistent with the programme strategy by fostering the strengths of the programme and by addressing the specific needs of the border area in terms of cultural heritage, contributing in this way to the achievement of the overall objective of the programme. Developing strong cross-border cooperation by promoting the culinary culture and reconnecting traditions in order to prevent cultural erosion and ensure sustainable development of the region, the project is consistent with the specific objective of the programme about improving the quality of life. Project Specific Objectives are: - To identify and explore the heritage of the production and consumption of food in the cross-border region in order to reconnect, promote and integrate healthy culinary traditions - To protect the culinary culture as an element of mutual cultural heritage - To raise awareness about culinary culture in the cross border area especially among the young generation As the culinary culture of the region is a key strength of the cross-border area, by fostering the cooperation in promoting culinary culture of the region and reconnecting traditions, the project aims to the protection of the regional cultural heritage. By comprehensive study on the culinary culture of the region, by joint strategy and action plan in order to protect the culinary culture, by raising awareness on culinary culture and also by promoting good cooperation relations, the project has an important role in improving life quality and in cooperation for efficient protection of cultural values.