Reservation at Stelle Restaurant.

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As part of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, and in conjunction with the World Anthropological Union (WAU) Congress (11-15 November 2024) in South Africa, the Italian Cultural Institute, the Embassy of Italy in Pretoria, and the World Anthropological Union will host a Lekgotla on 14 November 2024 at Stelle Restaurant in Johannesburg. The event will begin with a roundtable discussion on the Mediterranean Diet, exploring the connections between food traditions, human health, and cultural identity. Scholars from Italy and South Africa will examine how specific environments shape dietary practices. The focus will be on the Cinque Terre region in Liguria, Italy, a unique area between mountains and the sea. Known for its "heroic" agriculture of olive and wine, Cinque Terre farmers have maintained terraces on steep terrain for centuries. These traditional practices provide valuable zero-kilometer ingredients essential to the Mediterranean diet. Over the last 50 years, a shift from agriculture to tourism has left much land abandoned, reducing resilience to climate events and leading to floods, the erosion of cultural heritage, and decreased local food production. The event will include a virtual travel experience through Cinque Terre, offering insights into how these changes affect both culture and nutrition. Following the discussion, an experiential degustation will provide an opportunity to continue exploring the themes of food, culture, and health in an informal setting, fostering dialogue between experts and participants. Researchers in anthropology, nutrition, health, and environmental sustainability are invited to contribute to this critical exploration of the interplay between food, culture, and human health.