The Mediterranean Diet from Ancel Keys to the UNESCO Cultural Heritage. A Pattern of Sustainable Development between Myth and Reality

This paper deals with the Mediterranean Diet as a potential tool for increasing knowledge and promoting a sustainable development especially in least developed and developing regions. The confirmation of the MD as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognized by UNESCO in 2010, has produced a significant social impact in the seven nations and communities involved (Greece, Spain, Croatia, Portugal, Cyprus, Marocco, Italy). In addiction in 2012 the MD has been included by the FAO at the top of the list of the most sustainable diets in the planet. The double recognition of this lifestyle has generated a new approach to this cultural heritage by the stakeholders who are progressively recognizing that it may become a new tool to develop green economy and eco-tourism. To this end the author analyses the real and mythological genealogy of the MD in order to bring out its cultural, economic and social potentiality. The methodology applied belongs to the tradition of Anthropology of History, combined with a long field observation in the UNESCO Italian community of Pollica/Cilento. This approach permits to the author the possibility to formulate the hypothesis that the cultural pattern of the Mediterranean diet could turn useful to reshape the life in small villages far from the cities and it could become an inspirational model for new forms of eco-economy, circular economy and green communities. This article has received a wide international attention due to the innovative approach, the international publisher and the use of the English language. Not exclusively in the anthropological sector, but also by researchers of the environmental studies, architecture, green economy.

Questo saggio prende in esame la Dieta Mediterranea quale potenziale strumento per promuovere la crescita soprattutto nelle regioni interne ed in via di sviluppo. Il riconoscimento dell’UNESCO della DM quale Patrimonio Intangibile dell’Umanità, avvenuto nel 2010, sta producendo un significativo effetto socio-economico nelle sette nazioni coinvolte e nelle relative comunità emblematiche. Inoltre nel 2012 la DM è stata indicata dalla FAO tra i regimi alimentari più sostenibili del pianeta. Questi due riconoscimenti internazionali stanno stimolando un’inedita attenzione nei confronti di questo stile di vita e delle sue implicazioni patrimoniali da parte dei portatori d’interesse, sempre più convinti che la DM possa diventare un nuovo strumento di sviluppo nell’ambito di una strategia di Green Economy e di promozione del turismo ambientale ed eco-sostenibile. A tale proposito l’autrice analizza l’origine, sia storica che mitologica, della DM al fine di mostrarne le potenzialità culturali, economiche e sociali.