Launceston's bid for recognition as world class food region

But now there is a bid for Launceston to be officially recognised on the world stage.

The city has applied to become a City of Gastronomy in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, the only city in Australia entering a submission this year.

Gastronomy, the study of food and culture with a focus on gourmet cuisine, encompasses the whole food system from paddock to plate or grape to glass, with every role important.

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Many Northern restaurants and businesses in Launceston take part in highlighting the locality and simplicity of their produce. The focus of freshness and use of regional farms, dairy's and distilleries, enhance Launceston's goal of being seen as a hotspot for luxurious and world-class food.

Launceston mayor Albert Van Zetten said like other Northern Tasmania mayors, he was delighted to support the proposal from the dedicated steering group.

"A UNESCO designation for our gastronomy will bolster the status of Launceston and the North as a destination for visitors, inward migration and creative enterprises," he said.

Creative Cities Steering Group chairman Andrew Pitt said the project had "united the region", with all seven councils participating.

"Food is a common theme that crosses most of our key industries, agriculture, food manufacturing and processing, retail, hospitality and tourism, education and health," he said.

Mr Pitt said that in seeking this global recognition Launceston and Northern Tasmania would address some of the UN's 17 sustainable development goals including removing waste from the ecosystem, climate action and zero hunger, all essential for the planet's future through the lens of food and culture.

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"This could be 'the' identity that Northern Tasmania has been seeking to unify the region and drive economic development, job creation and population attraction through agribusiness, agri-food industries, create a more equal sharing of our food bounty, address our food deserts in some suburbs and regional areas and seeking innovation through creativity in all we do," said Mr Pitt.

The project was awarded $150,000 through a Food Innovation Australia Ltd Food Grant to match the $50,000 committed by seven of the Northern Tasmanian councils.

Another aim of the project is to support food education and literacy.

An example of this is a collaboration between St Giles and FermentTasmania, which has started a program to give adults with a disability the experience and training for a bakery environment.

St Giles Social enterprise manager Danielle Blewett said the project is still in its early days but could result in a small artisanal bakery at St Giles.

"This bid is like the Olympics, to even make the team to represent your country is a big deal but we all have our fingers and toes crossed we can achieve gold and the bid is successful so Northern Tasmania can be recognised as one of the great food regions in the world," Mr Pitt said.

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