Since its establishment in 2014, the award is presented each year to a journalist who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to promoting artisanal gelato and raising awareness of its cultural, economic, and social value—particularly with respect to the tradition of gelato makers from the Belluno valleys.
The 2024 award will be presented to Luciana Polliotti from Bergamo, a journalist and historian specializing in material culture and Italian artisanal gelato. A leading voice in the sector, Polliotti has directed several Italian trade magazines and contributed to national and international newspapers, TV shows, and radio programs. She is also one of the founding members of the Gelato World Cup.
Her work includes important publications such as “Gelati, Gelati” (Mondadori), and “1910–2010: One Hundred Years of Italian Artisanal Gelato” (Editrade), which highlights the rich history of gelato artisans from the Belluno area. She also curated exhibits at the Carpigiani Gelato Museum, further cementing her role as a key advocate for the industry. In 2010, she co-authored “Few Secrets and Many Virtues of Italian Artisanal Gelato” with the late Luca Caviezel for MIG Longarone, featuring historical recipes and industry insights.
The award ceremony is one of the key events of the 12th European Artisanal Gelato Day, a celebration officially established by the European Parliament in 2012, based on a proposal born in Longarone in 2008. In its founding resolution, the Parliament recognized artisanal gelato as a symbol of quality and food safety and an effective vehicle for enhancing local agri-food products across EU member states.
This year’s event will also spotlight the growing synergy between agriculture and gelato. During the ceremony, honorary certificates will be awarded to a number of agri-gelaterias—farms that transform their own fresh milk and ingredients into high-quality gelato—celebrating their commitment to transparent, field-to-cone production.
Given the absence of a formal regulatory framework for these innovative producers, the event will also serve as a platform to discuss the need for new policies that protect both consumers and farm-based gelato makers, ensuring quality, traceability, and fairness across the artisanal supply chain.