Launceston and Northern Tasmania was designated by UNESCO as a Creative City of Gastronomy in late 2021. This was in recognition of both the strength of our food culture and our intentions to use gastronomy as a creative lens to move towards sustainability.
Gastronomy Northern Tasmania is a subcommittee of the Northern Tasmania Development Corporation. We are the custodians of Launceston and Northern Tasmania’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. Our purpose is to leverage the City of Gastronomy status to grow and vibrant, sustainable regional community through food, establishing a globally relevant identity for Northern Tasmania. We use gastronomy as a creative lens to improve sustainable outcomes. Read more about our UNESCO designation here.
The committee also oversees Northern Tasmania’s agriCULTURED festival. agriCULTURED is Northern Tasmania’s premier celebration of gastronomy, agriculture, and sustainable food cultures. Established in 2021, the festival has evolved into a nationally recognised event showcasing the region’s world‑class agri‑food sector, reinforcing the regions status as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.
agriCULTURED continues to grow its national and international profile, supported by a diverse network of producers, farmers, chefs, creatives, academics, and food system innovators. The festival’s unique value lies in its ability to move beyond traditional food and wine events.
agriCULTURED offers deeply immersive, intellectually rich experiences that connect audiences with the full food system—from soil science and sustainable farming to culinary creativity and cultural expression. Its signature “Soil to Plate” approach, combined with collaborations between agriculture and the arts, creates rare, authentic encounters that resonate with conscious consumers, food tourists, and global thought leaders. agriCULTURED is proudly committed to being a zero waste festival, championing regenerative food systems and a circular economy. We believe what nourishes us should also sustain the planet.
Held in Launceston and Northern Tasmania 5 – 8 November 2026. Visit agriCULTURED’s website for more information on the festival.