Detrop and Google Developers Group Mapping the “Greek Food Heritage”

The “Greek Food Heritage” project is not just an innovative application that visualizes food industry data on a map, but aims to be an interactive platform for the creation of a digital map that will lead to historical, cultural, touristic and economic routes. This is a unique effort that is being made in Greece and is initiated by TIF-HELEXPO , which supports the Google Developers Group Thessaloniki. The goal is to develop it and for any interested parties (universities, educational, cultural, economic) to contribute to it, so that it can also be used as a tool for the extroversion of producers, businesses and the country.

It was designed to offer an innovative service that will add value to the presentation of Detrop, and to evolve into a data collector and information presented from a different perspective: the location. This was done mainly with the aim of creating data groups, where history will be linked to the tradition in the production of agricultural and livestock products. The platform will provide information in a multifaceted way, so that a product is linked not only to its producer but also to the historical, cultural and gastronomic background of the area. The locations will include data on farms, mills, dairies, vineyards, orchards, breweries, restaurants and cafes, food markets and grocery stores, hotels and inns.

The main objectives of the project are:

• To highlight current food production and its methodology
• Show current production locations
• To learn about Food Heritage and Culinary Culture from the past to the present
• To encourage “retailers” to promote gastronomic tourism based on Food Heritage
• To encourage collaborations to create rural and economic development.

As a direct result of this project, per region we can create:

1. FOOD PRODUCTION
   • Support for initiatives that reduce barriers to new farmers as well as the conversion of unused agricultural and urban land into “Hot Zones” for traditional food production.
   • Establishing partnerships for the promotion and development of educational media as well as for training in the production of traditional foods.
2. FOOD PROCESSING
   • Creation of a rural, skilled workforce
   • Enhance the success/efficiency of existing treatment facilities
   • Help for food entrepreneurs
   • Strengthening the entrepreneurial spirit
3. FOOD PREPARATION
   • History: We embrace our past and strengthen awareness of our place
   • Health: we promote cooking from scratch, using whole foods
   • Economy: We support local producers and restaurant owners
   • Balancing the past with the future through technology
4. RETAIL
   1. Recognition (through collaboration)
      • Establishment of traditional food criteria
      • Recognition of traditional foods
      • Creation of a Central Guide to Greek Food Heritage
   2. Certification (through collaboration)
      • Traditional food inscription
      • Product quality assurance
5. DESTINATIONS OF GASTRONOMIC INTEREST
   • Integrating learning and demonstrations of traditional products with local areas and historical tourism events.
   • Good practices/ Example: National Cultural Heritage Areas - a journey into the customs and culture of Ancient Greece
   • Exploiting the economic benefits of tourism
   • Providing information to “food tourists” (gastronomic tourism)
   • Strengthening the local economy through the advertising of local traditional products.
6. DESTINATIONS OF GASTRONOMIC INTEREST AND IN EDUCATION
   • Educating local communities about local traditions and food cultivation
   • Strengthening awareness of place
   • Educating “gastronomy tourists” about local traditions and food cultivation
   • Connecting culture with gastronomy and archaeological sites.

GDG TH3SS is a community of developers, people who love technology, students and businesses, who, despite having different specialties and coming from different fields, believe that technology can be a tool for the evolution of society and the promotion of innovation. This is very important for the Google Developers Group Thessaloniki , because through the osmosis of different perceptions, thoughts and worlds, knowledge is produced, collaboration is promoted and ideas are born. After all, technology develops the tools that identify market needs and contribute to the development of innovation.