Geospatial Organization of the Gastronomic Landscape

The aim of the study is to comprehensively examine the geospatial organization of the gastronomic landscape as a component of the socio-cultural and economic space of territories, with the aim of identifying the patterns of its formation and development, analyzing the territorial structure and spatial differentiation of gastronomic objects, determining the set of natural-geographical, historical-cultural, and socio-economic factors of influence, as well as assessing the role of gastronomy in ensuring the sustainable development of territories, increasing their tourist appeal and forming local identity.

The research methodology is based on a comprehensive approach that combines general scientific and specific geographical methods. The research process involved analysis and synthesis to generalize theoretical propositions regarding the gastronomic landscape; a systemic-structural approach to identify elements and interrelationships in its geospatial organization; cartographic and geoinformation methods were used to analyze the territorial distribution of gastronomic objects and the spatial patterns of their concentration; statistical methods were used to assess quantitative indicators of the development of gastronomic activity; and a comparative-geographical method was used to compare the gastronomic landscapes of different territories. Field research and content analysis of open sources were used to clarify the current state and specifics of the gastronomic landscape.

The results showed that the geospatial organization of the gastronomic landscape has a pronounced territorial differentiation, caused by a combination of natural-geographical, historical-cultural, and socio-economic factors.

The scientific novelty of this work lies in the substantiation of the gastronomic landscape as a component of the cultural and socio-economic space of the territory and the identification of the peculiarities of its geospatial organization. For the first time, the factors shaping the gastronomic landscape have been systematized from the perspective of spatial analysis and constructive geography.

The practical significance lies in the possibility of using the results obtained for spatial planning and development of the gastronomic infrastructure of territories. The identified patterns of geospatial organization of the gastronomic landscape can be used by local authorities and tourism entities in developing strategies for the development of territories, programs to support local gastronomic brands, and the formation of tourist routes.