@article{article_1698393, title={Refugee Gastronomy and Sustainable Development: The Case of Gaziantep}, journal={Toros University Journal of Food, Nutrition and Gastronomy}, volume={4}, pages={39–53}, year={2025}, author={İncetahtacı, Nur}, keywords={Gıda, sosyoloji, mülteciler, kültür}, abstract={The number of refugees worldwide has reached 120 million due to increasing wars, population growth, famine and economic problems. The number of refugees has increased by 8.8% in the last year, and it is estimated that the actual number exceeds official figures. It is also predicted that many societies will face refugee and/or migration situations in the future, making the integration of refugees with settled communities a significant issue. Approximately 80% of refugees are unable to return to their home countries, making integration with the host communities almost mandatory. Throughout history, successful and developed societies have used the human and cultural resources of refugees to achieve rapid development. Gastronomy plays a strategic role in this integration process, acting as a powerful tool that transcends cultural barriers and builds bridges between refugees and local communities. Refugees, by introducing the rich cultural heritage they bring with them to new societies, not only preserve their own identities but also ensure the sustainability of this heritage. In this context, gastronomy not only supports cultural sustainability but also functions as a means of social integration. This study discusses how food and gastronomy, as tools that facilitate the integration of refugees with local populations, contribute to the construction of a sustainable future and sustainable culture. By sharing their culinary cultures, refugees add economic and social value to the new communities they join while securing both local and their own cultural sustainability by passing their heritage on to future generations. They bring the effective power of cultural richness and diversity to the societies in which they are integrated. These processes strengthen social cohesion, cultural diversity and economic resilience, which are essential foundations of sustainable development. The aim of this study is to reveal how this process of integration contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and to identify which specific goals are supported through the use of food and gastronomy as tools for refugee integration.}, number={1}, publisher={Toros Üniversitesi}