Recognition of Heritage at Risk
The Madeiran Couscous has been officially accepted for inclusion in the Ark of Taste, a global catalogue managed by the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity. This integration follows a nomination process that was technically reviewed to ensure full compliance with the project’s underlying principles.
Criteria for Inclusion
Acceptance into the Ark of Taste is strictly based on the product’s alignment with the core pillars of this international inventory:
- Distinct Identity: The product must possess specific characteristics linked to a defined territory and its local traditions.
- Artisanal Scale: Production must be tied to traditional, small-scale methods.
- Risk of Extinction: The inventory focuses on products that, due to economic, social, or environmental pressures, are at risk of disappearing.
Madeira’s Presence in the Inventory
The confirmation of this nomination validates the technical relevance of three elements of the region’s food biodiversity:
This registration serves as a visibility tool for products that are part of the local culture, ensuring their existence and the threats they face are recognised globally through the Slow Food network.