Sustainable Gastronomy Day2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/71/246
About Sustainable Gastronomy Day
Sustainable Gastronomy Day is observed on 18 June to connect food culture and cuisine with the environmental, social and economic sustainability of food systems.
The United Nations General Assembly designated the day in 2016 and invited UNESCO and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to facilitate its observance.
Why Sustainable Gastronomy Day matters
Sustainable gastronomy considers more than what appears on a plate. It can include where ingredients come from, how food is produced and transported, how local knowledge and food traditions are maintained, and how resources and waste are managed.
The day is therefore most useful when celebration of cuisine is paired with practical attention to food loss and waste, biodiversity, seasonal and local production, livelihoods and culturally respectful food choices.
History of Sustainable Gastronomy Day
On 21 December 2016, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/71/246 and designated 18 June as Sustainable Gastronomy Day.
The resolution invited UNESCO and FAO, together with Member States, UN organizations and other stakeholders, to facilitate observance of the day.
United Nations briefing material records 18 June 2017 as the first Sustainable Gastronomy Day. The reviewed first-party sources do not establish why 18 June itself was selected, so the date rationale remains unresolved.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/71/246
First documented observance
United Nations briefing material records 18 June 2017 as the first Sustainable Gastronomy Day.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and UNESCO
A/RES/71/246 invites UNESCO and FAO to facilitate observance, and FAO continues official Sustainable Gastronomy Day programming.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe Sustainable Gastronomy Day
Cook a meal using seasonal ingredients and learn how they were produced and transported.
Plan portions carefully and reuse safe leftovers to reduce household food waste.
Learn from local farmers, cooks or food historians about traditional crops and techniques without presenting one tradition as representative of an entire culture.
Compare credible information on the environmental and social impacts of different food choices rather than relying on a single sustainability label.
Support food businesses and producers that can explain their sourcing, labour and waste-reduction practices.
Sustainable Gastronomy Day Facts
Sustainable Gastronomy Day is observed on 18 June.
The UN General Assembly designated the day through A/RES/71/246.
The resolution was adopted on 21 December 2016.
FAO and UNESCO were invited to facilitate the observance.
UN briefing material records the first Sustainable Gastronomy Day in 2017.
Sustainable Gastronomy Day Messages
Wishing everyone marking Sustainable Gastronomy Day a thoughtful, enjoyable and delicious observance.
Happy Sustainable Gastronomy Day! May Sustainable Gastronomy Day be an invitation to enjoy food thoughtfully and credit the people and traditions behind it.
Celebrate Sustainable Gastronomy Day by learning the story behind the food, sharing it thoughtfully and giving credit to the traditions that shaped it.
May Sustainable Gastronomy Day bring good conversation, responsible enjoyment and a deeper appreciation of culinary culture.
Sustainable Gastronomy Day Quotes
“Gastronomy is a cultural expression of the world’s natural and cultural diversity.”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
United Nations General Assembly — A/RES/71/246, Sustainable Gastronomy Day (opens in a new tab)
FAO — Sustainable Gastronomy Day (opens in a new tab)
FAO — Sustainable Gastronomy Day partnerships (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — List of International Days and Weeks (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — Observances: who chooses them and how (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Sustainable Gastronomy Day?
18 June The documented recurrence rule is: 18 June.
Does Sustainable Gastronomy Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is Sustainable Gastronomy Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: FAO / United Nations / international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes Sustainable Gastronomy Day?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and UNESCO.
Is Sustainable Gastronomy Day international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: FAO / United Nations / international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
When is Sustainable Gastronomy Day?
It is observed every year on 18 June.
Who established Sustainable Gastronomy Day?
The United Nations General Assembly designated the day in Resolution A/RES/71/246 in 2016.
What does sustainable gastronomy mean?
It connects cuisine and food culture with how food is sourced, produced, transported and consumed, including attention to resources, livelihoods and waste.
Other observances on June 18
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International Day for Countering Hate Speech
A/RES/75/309