La filosofia della DOP economy. Come il cibo di qualità può generare cultura, comunità e futuro

Every morning in Italy, nearly one million people set in motion a production system comprising more than 180,000 agri-food businesses associated with Geographical Indications. It is a widespread, often unnoticed effort that keeps our traditions alive over time and makes our food tastier and safer.
We recognize them on labels by two European acronyms that have become part of everyday life: DOP and IGP. We see them when we buy Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano, Prosciutto di Parma, Chianti, Prosecco, Arancia Rossa di Sicilia, and many other products, and we find them on restaurant menus to indicate unique ingredients and wines.
But what do these two acronyms represent? In recent years, the system of Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) has shaped Italian territories, giving rise to a new geographical economy, now referred to by the neologism “PDO economy.” It has enhanced cultural and artistic heritage, strengthened communities, and boosted the global recognition of “Made in Italy,” thereby restoring a deeper meaning to our agri-food products.
The book describes and interprets this transformation through an analysis of the values underlying what is, in effect, a new philosophy of food. This reflection, rooted in concrete experiences, highlights its outcomes and lessons, as well as its limitations and contradictions, and points to the challenges we face as a country. For businesses, protection consortia, and institutions, consolidating this model means preserving Italian quality. For citizens, it means keeping the value of local territories alive.