UNESCO Grants Intangible Heritage Status to Minas Artisanal Cheese at Brazil's ExpoQueijo

Former Minas Gerais culture and tourism secretary Bárbara Botega attended the ceremony on 26 June in Araxá, Brazil, where UNESCO formally awarded the certificate recognizing the traditional production of Minas artisanal cheese as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The award was presented during the opening of ExpoQueijo Brasil 2026, an international fair held at the Barreiro complex.

The designation highlights a sector that produced 32.1 thousand tonnes of artisanal cheese in 2025, supporting roughly 8.8 thousand family‑run agro‑industries across hundreds of municipalities. Officials say the UNESCO label not only honors cultural identity but also serves as a powerful tool to boost the region’s economy and tourism.

Botega’s participation underscores the state’s broader agenda to promote Minas Gerais’ cultural assets and stimulate strategic meetings with local business and tourism leaders in the following days.