Abstract :
This article is a presentation of the local Mediterranean cheese sector and of the several
types of projects and initiatives to promote the Mediterranean local cheeses: promotional
campaigns, workshops, networks and meetings, regional events (cheeses shows, processing
demonstrations, thematic routes, cheese contests, . . .). The small-scale and farm-made
cheeses, mostly with sheep or goat milk, are generally considered a possible vehicle of
economic and social development for the less favored rural areas; mountainous areas are
seen as holders of local know-how. To support this development, several initiatives and
often public supported projects have aimed to promote and improve the valorization of
these local small-scale Mediterranean cheeses and their heritage value. The analysis is
based mainly on a comparison of projects and initiative in which the authors were involved
through several European projects of cooperation. The different situations in the northern
and southern areas are considered separately. For each initiative, we particularly focus on
the type of organization or institution that has led it: Regional Public Extension, National
Park Administration, Universities or Research Centers, Public Organizations, Professional
Associations . . .. We cross them with simple indicators to characterize each regional sector.
The initiatives are characterized regarding the coherence and impact of these projects.
In several cases, the promotion of local cheeses is not related to a sustainable and coherent
strategy of development of production. The interrelations between institutional public
projects of regional rural development and the local cheese and animal production systems
were studied. This article underlines that such initiatives have to integrate the components
of a coherent appropriation of the Mediterranean Cheese heritage and the tensions between
technical and cultural approaches.
