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GEOfood
Sustainable local food from unique geological areas
GEOfood is the international brand of the UNESCO Global Geoparks, which promotes and showcases agri-food products linked to the geodiversity and culture of the local area.
Through GEOfood, the Sesia Val Grande Geopark strengthens cooperation between local communities and encourages the sharing of experiences and best practices in sustainability at a global level.
GEOfood connects farmers, food businesses and restaurateurs from the territories of the UNESCO Global Geoparks who share the values and criteria set out in the GEOfood Manifesto.
Together with the Sesia Val Grande Geopark, GEOfood organisations develop joint strategies to promote local food and wine heritage, traditional rural practices, innovation, food education and research.
The GEOfood label promotes products and menus that highlight the link between geological heritage, culture, local traditions and ancient knowledge, and may only be used within UNESCO Global Geoparks, in conjunction with the geopark logo, in accordance with the criteria agreed upon at a global level.
GEOfood — the unique flavour of geodiversity.
View the map of geoparks participating in the GEOFood network
Geoparks, sustainable development and local communities
Geoparks promote sustainable and integrated development, directly benefiting local communities. In the Sesia Val Grande Geopark, these activities help to raise environmental awareness and enhance the natural, cultural and economic heritage of an area characterised by extraordinary geodiversity.
In this context, choosing GEOfood products means supporting practices to mitigate and adapt to climate change, promoting sustainable behaviour in everyday life and empowering local communities through educational activities.
In this way, GEOfood contributes to the promotion of food products linked to local production traditions and to the development of authentic, environmentally friendly tourism activities, capable of supporting the local economy and preserving the natural heritage of the Sesia Val Grande Geopark.
GEOfood — the taste of sustainability
Food and the development of the local economy
GEOfood promotes the consumption of local, ‘zero-kilometre’ produce, encouraging short supply chains and local food systems. In the Sesia Val Grande Geopark, this model helps to retain more resources within the local economy, reducing the number of intermediaries and enabling producers to derive greater value from their work.
Bringing consumption closer to the place of production also helps to raise awareness of the importance of protecting and promoting the geological, natural and cultural heritage of the Sesia Val Grande Geopark, generating positive economic benefits for local communities.
GEOfood — flavour that supports local communities.
Miaccia: a culinary symbol of Valsesia
In Valsesia, miacce (or miacci) are a culinary speciality whose documented origins date back to the 16th century. The recipe, handed down for centuries from mother to daughter around the hearths of kitchens and mountain huts, has evolved over time, giving rise to numerous variations, including the use of eggs or maize flour. The ancient documentary evidence, their widespread availability in shops and their constant presence in local traditions have made miacce one of the culinary symbols of Valsesia.
Even today, they take centre stage at traditional village and valley festivals, loved by families and also appreciated by visitors.
For centuries, miacce have preserved the flavour of Valsesian tradition within the Sesia Val Grande Geopark. You can find the recipe in GEOfood magazine.
Wine: the echo of our geological heritage in a glass
In the Sesia Val Grande Geopark, winegrowing has a unique history, with roots stretching back to pre-Roman times. Born of the fusion of Etruscan viticultural techniques and Celtic culture, for over twenty-six centuries wine productionin Upper Piedmont has stood out for its unique and unrivalled qualities.
Traditional cultivation techniques — such as the ‘maggiorina’ method —, the extraordinary longevity of its Nebbiolo (or Spanna) grapes and the complexity of the ‘companion’ varieties — from the spicy elegance of Vespolina to the mineral freshness of Erbaluce — are intertwined with the geological characteristics of the vineyards. It is precisely the extraordinary geodiversity of the soils that gives the wines of Upper Piedmont their unique character.
From the marine sands of Lessona to the hills of Bramaterra, from the volcanic rocks of Boca and Gattinara to the alluvial deposits of Ghemme, Fara and Sizzano, right through to the lands shaped by the glaciers of the Ossola Valleys, every wine tells the geological story of the region.
In the Sesia Val Grande Geopark, geology does not merely shape the landscape: it can also be savoured in the wine.
Cheeses: the gold of the Sesia Val Grande Geopark’s pastures
Within the Sesia Val Grande Geopark, cheese-making has its roots in a long pastoral tradition linked to life on the mountain pastures. From the pastures of Valsesia to the valleys surrounding Val Grande, for centuries livestock farming and milk processing have been a vital resource for local communities.
This pastoral culture is closely linked to the practice of transhumance, recognised as intangible cultural heritage, which for generations has shaped the rhythms of life in the Alpine valleys, guiding people and animals between the lowland pastures and the high-altitude mountain pastures.
Cheesemaking techniques, handed down through the generations, have given rise to a rich variety of cheeses linked to the region’s diverse environments: from ‘tome d’alpeggio’, produced during the summer on the high pastures, to the famous Gorgonzola, one of Piedmont’s best-known cheese specialities.
The cheeses of the Sesia Val Grande Geopark encapsulate the aromas of the alpine pastures and the history of a centuries-old pastoral tradition.
