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Consorzio del formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano
Press release
Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese: seventy
years ago the Consortium was born
On 27 July 1934 the Consorzio Interprovinciale
del Grana Tipico was established, the oldest organisation for the
protection of a cheese. The 70th anniversary is celebrated with
a series of events scheduled in September and October.
Reggio Emilia, 27 July 2004. On 27
July 1934, in Reggio Emilia, at the headquarters of the Consiglio
Provinciale dell’Economia, the “Consorzio Volontario
Interprovinciale fra produttori del formaggio Grana Tipico” was
established upon request of the representatives of producers from
all the provinces of the production area.
In the previous years, producers had set the objective to identify
the production of the cheese with the names of “Parmigiano” and “Reggiano” by
means of a marking. After several years of debate and a few attempts
undertaken at a provincial level, in 1934, producers succeeded
in defeating the existing diffidence and incomprehension thereby
giving life to the oldest organisation for the protection and promotion
of a typical cheese. That was the expression of the history and
culture of a specific territory. They decided that the wheels produced
within the territories of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena and Mantua
on the right bank of the river Po would be imprinted with the "C.G.T.
Parmigiano-Reggiano" mark. In 1937, the production area was
extended to include the territories of the province of Bologna
on the left bank of the river Reno.
Since that decision, many targets have been accomplished and Consortium
and Parmigiano-Reggiano have become an inseparable pair that has
deeply influenced the rural and economic features of the production
area where this precious cheese is made. There has been an incredible
technical and economic development that has led to a significant
increase of production: from 37,000 tons in 1933 to 113,400 tons
today, whereas the number of dairies has diminished from 2,585
in 1938 to 524 in 2003, with a rationalisation of production within
their artisan structure.
“This year, 70 years after that brave action – Andrea
Bonati, President of the Consortium declared – our organisation
would like to celebrate that event and pay homage to the people
who, in all these years, have rendered the safeguarding and protection
of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese possible, since it is one of the
food products that has evidenced the close link between human beings
and the natural environment of a territory”.
“There are three aspects – Bonati continues – that
I would like to point out on this occasion. First, let’s
reflect on the fact that in all these years, even with the radical
technological transformations introduced into agriculture, the
producers of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese have made fundamental choices
at a technical level, which have enabled us to maintain the quality
of the "king of cheeses " unaltered, by linking it to
a traditional feeding based on local fodder and to a production
process that, still today, does not use any additives or chemical
artifices. Only in this way, we have succeeded in preserving the
naturalness without which Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese would not
achieve the balance of aromas and flavours, and the lengthy maturation
that render it unique worldwide. Second, I would like to bring
to mind that this willingness to keep the typical features of Parmigiano-Reggiano
cheese unaltered has always been accompanied by the choice of highlighting
the mark distinguishing the wheels produced in this territory of
origin, a mark that has increased its value over time. Third, throughout
its history, the Consortium has always committed itself to protecting
the product and the mark against any imitations. Through its incessant
protection activity, the Consortium has been able to counter the
illegal and imitation actions found at international levels and
eased by the globalisation of markets”.
The 70th anniversary will not simply be a celebrative and evocative
moment, but it will also be an opportunity to reflect on the endless
growth process of this cheese, on the protection activity of the
Consortium and on the role of institutions and organisations in
Europe for the defence of territorial products.
“On occasion of the 70th anniversary – Leo Bertozzi,
Director of the Consortium underlines – we will present the
definitive programme that was announced during the press conference
at the end of March, but which now is complete. The calendar of
events that will take place in September and October will involve
all the provinces of the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese production
area. On the last day of celebrations and in the presence of Minister
Alemanno, the first edition of the “Parmigiano-Reggiano International
Award” will take place. This is an initiative that the Consortium
intends on favouring for the growth of new Geographical Indications
worldwide”.
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS – 70TH ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATIONS
PARMA Wednesday 15 September
“Parmigiano-Reggiano Past, Present
and Future”
Sala Aurea
Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Craftsmanship and Agriculture
Via Verdi, 2 – Parma
Programme
Hour 9:30 - Welcome
• Andrea Bonati - President Consortium of Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
•
Elvio Ubaldi - Mayor of Parma
• Vincenzo Bernazzoli - President
of the Provincial Government of Parma
• Andrea Zanlari - President
of the Chamber of Commerce of Parma
Hour 10:00 Speakers
• Giovanni Ballarini - University of Parma
“Uniqueness and Typicality of Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
over the Centuries”
• Mauro Pecorari - Consortium for
Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
“Production Techniques amidst Innovation and Tradition”
•
Giorgio Calabrese - Catholic University of
Piacenza
“The Dietetic and Nutritional Aspects of Parmigiano-Reggiano
Cheese”
Coffee break
• Geoffrey Podger - European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
“The European Food Safety Authority and Typical Products”
• Corrado
Giacomini - University of Parma
“Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese and the Challenge of Today’s Agri-Food
Market”
Conference Co-ordinator: Giovanni Ballarini - University of Parma
Hour 13:00 - Inauguration of the Photographic
Exhibition “Parmigiano-Reggiano
Cheese: a Passionate History”
The exhibition will remain open to the public from 15 to 21 September
Visiting Hours 8:30 – 12:00 and 15:15 – 16:30
Friday and Saturday 8:30 – 12:00
Buffet
MODENA Wednesday 22 September
“The Evolution
of Advertising Communication for Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese”
Monzani Forum
Via Aristotele, 33
Modena
Master of Ceremonies: Patrizio Roversi
Programme
Hour 10:00 - Greetings
• Andrea Bonati - President Consortium for Parmigiano-Reggiano
Cheese
Greetings from the local authorities
Hour 10:30 - Speakers
• Giampaolo Fabris - Professor of Sociology
of Consumption IULM University of Milan
“Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese: Myth, Reality, Legend and Future”
• Bruno
Gambacorta - Journalist for Rai TG2, Eat Parade
“Taste from the Small Screen”
• Cecilia Robustelli - Professor of Literature and Philosophy
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
“The Communication Language in Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
Advertising”
Coffee break
Projection of the most important advertising campaigns in Parmigiano-Reggiano’s
history of communication
•
Marco Testa - President of Armando Testa Advertising Agency, Turin
“Presentation of the New Advertising Campaign”
Buffet
Sponsored by the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
MANTUA Thursday 30 September
“The People behind the History of
the Consortium”
Sala
Grande of the Palazzo della Ragione,
P.zza Erbe
Mantua
Evening by invitation
For 70 years, milk and cheese producers have believed in the protection
and promotion activities performed by the Consortium for Parmigiano-Reggiano
Cheese worldwide.
After 70 years, the Consortium would like to commemorate this commitment
and determination by all those who, throughout its history, have
contributed to passing on the culture, the knowledge, the awareness
and the tradition of Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese.
For future producers, the Consortium and the people who have always
loved and appreciated the qualities of Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
will continue to celebrate the unique virtues that have made it
the “King of Cheeses”.
BOLOGNA Wednesday 6 October
“The Role of Institutions for
the Enhancement and Protection of P.D.O. Products”
Aula Magna
of the Emilia-Romagna Region
Via Aldo Moro, 30
Bologna
Moderator: Paolo De Castro - Professor of Agricultural Policies
at the University of Bologna
Programme
Hour 10:00 - Greetings
• Andrea Bonati - President Consortium for
Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
Greetings from the local authorities
Hour 10:15 - Speakers
•
Paolo De Castro - Professor of Agricultural Policies University
of Bologna
•
Romano Prodi - President of the European Commission
Coffee Break
• Giuseppe Ambrosio - Head of the Department for Agri-Food and
Services Quality Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
• Guido Tampieri - Councillor for Agriculture for the Emilia-Romagna
Region
•
Viviana
Beccalossi - Councillor of Agriculture for the Lombardy Region
Hour 12:30 Closing Statements
•
Leo Bertozzi - Director Consortium for Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
Buffet
REGGIO EMILIA Tuesday 19 October
“The Role of European Safeguarding
Organisations in Managing Local Products”
Ariosto Theatre, Reggio Emilia
Moderator: Professor Paolo De Castro, Professor of Agricultural
Policies – Bologna University
Programme
15.30 hours - Opening speech
•
Andrea Bonati - Chairman of the Parmigiano-Reggiano Consortium
Welcoming speech from the locals authorities
15.45 hours - Round table “Safeguarding
Organisations: discussions and experience”
First presentations:
• Jorge Monteiro - Chairman of the Port and Douro Wines Institute Portugal
•
Luis
Herrero - Quality Director – Ministry of Agriculture
Spain
•
Jean Jacqes Bret - Director - Comté Cheese Inter-professional
Committee France
•
Markus Baumann - Director - Sbrinz Käse GmbH Switzerland
•
Guy Tardif - Manufacturer from Québec Canada
•
Leo Bertozzi - Director - Parmigiano-Reggiano Consortium Italy
Debate / questions
Second presentations
17.30 hours - Coffee Break
18.00 hours - Presentation and conclusions
• Giovanni Alemanno - Minister for Agricultural and Forestry Policies
18.30 hours “International Parmigiano-Reggiano Award” ceremony
Introduction:
Leo Bertozzi
Presentation of the award: Andrea Bonati
Thank you speeches
Final speech
19.00 hours - Outdoor buffet at the State Archives
Consortium of Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
Press Office and Public Ralations
in collaboration with Centro Stampa – Bologna |
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