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The mediterranean diet, human heritage

THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET,

HUMAN HERITAGE
by Giancarlo Galan

mong the base principles of Republic, our constituent
Fathers inserted nature and artistic and historical patri-
Amony safeguard as well as health safeguard as individ-
ual fundamental rights and of community’s interest.
After many decades, the constitutional Law October 18 th 2001,
nr. 3, introducing “Amendments to Title V of the Constitution”,
brought innovations to Art. 117 of the Constitution, including
environment, ecosystem and cultural heritage preservation.
I wanted to recall those principles on the occasion of the organiza-
tion of a Focus in the technical and scientific magazine Silvae, edit-
ed by the State Forestry Corps and dedicated to the “Food Land-
scape”, since this concept has not only an aesthetic qualification or
a connection with the idea of a convivial “Stay together”, in them-
selves already relevant values to the spiritual and cultural dimen-
sion both of men and local communities, but it also represent the
right link among the values of environment, territory and food,
goods of primary importance for individuals and populations.
Among its missions, the Ministry I am responsible of has that of
quality safeguard, which is not an “addendum” of the output,
but an essential peculiarity of food productive process. Quality
means a high organoleptic standard, elevated levels in sanitary
security of the stuff used to produce foods, strict production pro-
cedures and territory’s salubriousness.
Further than an economic and alimentary function, agro-silvo-
pastoral productions perform other two functions: an hydrogeo-
logical safeguard of the territory, through cultivated lands and
woods, which keep the soil steady and an hygienic and sanitary
one, absorbing the carbon dioxide, produced by industrial and
civic discharge and cars, through the natural process of “photo-
synthesis”.
Recently even UNESCO called attention to the value of food,
recommending to insert the “Mediterranean Diet” into the pres-

SILVÆ - Anno VI n. 13 - 7