Project in brief The Mediterranean Diet has recently been included by the UNESCO in its Intangible Cultural Heritage List while the Council of Europe acknowledges the diet key role in promoting tolerance and diversity. At the same time the Food and Agriculture Organization, due to the continuing development of individualistic societies, considers this diet decayed into a moribund state. Against growing globalization, the conservation of the Mediterranean culinary heritage represents an important factor in maintaining its richness, healthy character and bio-diversity. As a contribution to this challenge, SLOWMED project aims to promote creative intercultural dialogue with a view to consolidating a Mediterranean cultural identity based on its culinary heritage and to encourage the intergenerationaltransfer of traditions to young people. Considering food as a work of art, the project will also involve a wide range of artists from the Mediterranean region in a new way of highlighting the culinary heritage. Food contests, artistic competitions and educational workshops addressed to children will help spread the projects message to various social groups of the Mediterranean area. Specific objectives • To encourage the Mediterranean culinary heritage preservation and conservation • To promote the recognition of food as a form of cultural and artistic expression • To foster nutrition education based on the Mediterranean culinary heritage Expected Results: • Regional documentary 4 Culinary Seasons of the Mediterranean Diet produced, broadcasted online and also distributed in 1600 DVD copies • 3200 hard copies of the SlowMed Recipe Book diffused (children educational book developed by artists) and at least 300 copies downloaded from the projects website • Five events foreseen under the Mediterranean Roadmap of Slow Food Laboratories (including food exhibitions, conferences, concerts and nutrition education workshops) attended by 400 people • Competition of Fusion Dishes held with the involvement of 24 chefs • SlowMed network created gathering 300 concerned actors • 12 awareness raising workshops organized in schools with at least 250 people involved