2026 Global Call for Recipes from SIDS
Promoting the culinary heritage of Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
Why does this matter
SIDS are custodians of some of the world’s most vibrant and diverse culinary traditions, shaped by centuries of cultural exchange, Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge systems, and the abundant biodiversity of island ecosystems. These cuisines are not merely recipes; they are living expressions of identity, resilience, and heritage. However, these culinary traditions face mounting threats from globalization, climate change, and shifting dietary habits. Traditional ingredients are becoming scarce and costly due to environmental degradation and supply chain disruptions. Youth are increasingly disconnected from ancestral food pathways, while convenience-driven lifestyles displace foods requiring time-intensive preparation. Imported, “ultra-processed” foods are replacing local diets, contributing to rising health challenges such as obesity and non-communicable diseases. These trends erode cultural identity and undermine food security and nutrition.
Preserving and promoting SIDS culinary heritage is therefore not only a cultural imperative but also a strategic contribution to sustainable development, food security, nutrition, and climate resilience. Traditional agrifood systems embody principles of biodiversity conservation, low-carbon practices, and community-based resource management; values that align with global sustainability agendas.
Within this context, women and elders serve as the primary guardians of culinary heritage, safeguarding traditional knowledge and transmitting it to younger generations. Strengthening these intergenerational exchanges helps sustain cultural identity, supports local and sustainable agrifood systems, and empowers women, youth and Indigenous Peoples, as key agents of change. By safeguarding and revitalizing these traditions, SIDS can reinforce domestic food production and consumption, enhance community wellbeing, and nurture a deep sense of pride in cultural identity.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is curating a collection of traditional and contemporary recipes from SIDS to raise awareness of the importance of diverse traditional and locally produced foods in healthy diets and to showcase dishes that embody cultural heritage, sustainability, and resilience.
What we are looking for
We invite chefs, home and school cooks, farmers, culinary enthusiasts, and community members, including youth, from SIDS and beyond, to share original recipes that reflect their culinary heritage using locally available ingredients. Submissions may include everyday dishes, ceremonial foods, school meals, festive meals, or adaptations of traditional recipes that respond to contemporary challenges.
Deadline for submissions
Submissions are open until 23 March 2026 at midnight CET.
For more information contact: [email protected]
By submitting the online form, all Contributors acknowledge and agree to the Terms and Conditions, which are detailed below:
- Each Contributor can submit up to three recipes by filling in and submitting the online form. Each recipe should be submitted separately.
- Contributors must have copyright of all materials they submit. FAO will credit Contributors of selected recipe.
- Recipes and photos previously published are not eligible for submission.
- The material must not violate or infringe third parties’ rights including but not limited to trademark, privacy, publicity or other intellectual property rights, or that constitutes copyright infringement.
- The submission must not contain dates, texts, brand names, logos or trademarks.
- FAO respects photographers’ rights and does not claim copyright over images submitted to this call. The author retains full copyright for each entry. Whenever the image is published by FAO, the author will be credited.
- The call is open to individuals (“Contributors”). If the Contributor is under the age of 18, the consent of their parents or legal guardians is required. The parent or legal guardian must sign the Subject Release Form and email it to [email protected] . The age to declare is that at the time of submission of the recipe(s).
- FAO employees and their immediate family members (spouses, parents, children, siblings and their respective spouses, regardless of where they live) or people living in the same households of such employees, whether or not related, partners or relations of partners of FAO and relations of the judging committee are not eligible to participate in this call.
- FAO will determine eligibility at its sole discretion.
Recipes may be submitted in English, French or Spanish and should include:
- Name of the dish (with local name where possible)
- Country of origin
- List of all ingredients with exact quantities for 4 servings, using standard measurements (count, weight, volume, teaspoons/tablespoons, or cups). Where helpful, include both count and weight (e.g. 1 onion,150 g/5.3 oz). Avoid vague measurements
- Clearly outlined preparation and cooking methods, including step-by-step instructions and precise cooking times
- Cultural context/personal story/anecdote (100–200 words)
- A short description of the Contributor including name, age (optional), profession and contact details
- At least five high quality images of the ingredients, cooking process and finished dish with the following specifications:
- Caption: Name of the dish, location (origin of the dish) and photographer’s name
- File size: Original file size (at least 5 000 pixels)
- File type: JPEG
- Enhancement: No further enhancements or manipulations
- Coloured (preferred) or black and white photos will be accepted
Submission does not guarantee inclusion in the publication.
Submissions should preferably be made through the online form, ensuring all required fields are completed. Alternatively, the fully completed form may be sent via email, including all necessary attachments to [email protected].
Deadline for submissions
Submissions are open until 23 March 2026 at midnight CET. Late or incomplete submissions may not be considered.
- FAO reserves the right to disqualify submissions which are not consistent with the Organization’s values and guiding principles.
- FAO also reserves the right to verify the eligibility of any entry and/or Contributors (including Contributors’ identity and address) and to disqualify any Contributors who submit an entry that is not in accordance with the Submission Rules, including the photo criteria, Copyright and Privacy, or who tampers with the entry process.
- The Contributors will indemnify and hold FAO harmless from and against any costs, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) from third party claims arising out of or relating to its participation in the call or any violation of these Terms.
- FAO will not pay any fees for, nor pay any costs relating to, participation in this call or for the use of any submissions in relation to the call.
- No logos, URLs, telephone numbers, or calls that solicit directly for monetary donations should be included in any material.
- FAO will not be responsible, and cannot be held liable, for incomplete, lost, late, misdirected or illegible entries or for failure to receive entries due to transmission failures or technical failures of any kind, including, without limitation, malfunctioning of any network, hardware or software, whether originating with sender or for any human error, lost/delayed data transmission, or any other error or malfunction.
- By responding to this call, Contributors agree that personal data, especially name and address, may be processed, shared, and otherwise used in accordance with FAO Data Protection Policy. The data will be used for the purposes and within the context of the call, FAO institutional activities, and any other purposes outlined in these Rules. The data may also be used by FAO in order to verify the Contributors’ identity, postal address and telephone number or to otherwise verify the Contributors’ eligibility to participate in the call.
- Nothing in these General Rules or in any rules for this call, nor any acts performed or statements made in relation to the call, shall be deemed a waiver, express or implied, of any of the privileges and immunities of FAO.
- Contributors may not submit any entries which include content generated by any generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool, including but not limited to photorealistic imagery, graphics or other artistic media. Contributors are allowed to use AI technology for ideation or editing purposes. Whenever a Contributor uses AI technology for these or any other purposes, they shall disclose how such technology was specifically used. Should AI have been used in a way that is not compliant with these rules, FAO reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify the submission.
Acceptance
By submitting entries to the call, the Contributors confirms that the Rules for this call as set out above have been read, understood and agreed to by the Contributors or their respective parents or legal guardians.
Copyright
- Contributors must own the copyright of the material they submit.
- If the material contains images of a person or persons, Contributors must have obtained the permission of those persons or their legal guardians for submission of their material as well as the use of the material by FAO for the purposes described in these General Rules. FAO will not be responsible for any claim or complaints alleging violation of personal data of third parties.
- The Contributor declares that, to the best of his/her knowledge, no third party can claim any rights on the material submitted and that the material submitted does not infringe third-party rights. The Contributor also confirms that each person depicted in the material has granted permission to be portrayed as shown.
- FAO will not seek additional approval in connection with the use of the material, and it will not be responsible for any claim or complaint alleging violation of the rights of third parties.
- Copyright of the material remains with the Contributor. By responding to this call, the Contributor grants an irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide exclusive license to FAO, for non-commercial purposes, to reproduce, distribute, display and create derivative works of the entries (along with a name credit) in connection with the call and the promotion of FAO’s work, in, amongst others:
- FAO corporate website: www.fao.org
- corporate videos or digital recordings to illustrate the work of the Organization
- printed FAO publications, brochures or posters
- social media channels, including promotion of the call itself
- any other media used by FAO to communicate
Failure to publish a credit due to error or oversight shall not be deemed a breach of this condition.
Data protection and privacy
- FAO collects and processes your personal data for the purposes and within the context of this call, FAO institutional activities, and any other purposes outlined in these Rules, in line with FAO’s Data Protection and Privacy Notice. To that effect, FAO will be processing full name, country of origin, email address, phone number and brief personal profile.
- FAO may share Contributors’ personal data with selected third parties (duly authorized partners or service providers) to perform services for FAO based on the above purpose.
- Please contact [email protected] for any questions or concerns related to Contributors’ personal data processed by FAO.