Last Friday was marked by the debate that took place at the Faculty of Biotechnology (ESB) of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, in Porto, on healthy and sustainable food choices. This meeting, which took place within the scope of the Innovation Day, brought together students, researchers and company representatives, who actively participated in sharing knowledge about the present and future of this topic.
“Each year, we bring together representatives of companies, researchers and students to reflect on a theme for the future that will help to create greater and better articulation between all of us,” said Paula Castro, director of the Faculty of Biotechnology at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Porto. “This year we gave visibility to food choices – healthy and sustainable -, a dichotomy that coexists and needs everyone’s contribution to respond, including to Sustainable Development Goal 2 – Eradicate hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture,” added Manuela Pintado, director of the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry.
Innovation Day 2023 featured several debate panels, namely “Human brain and planetary health”, with the presence of Dalile Boushra, researcher at the Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID) at KU Leuven, Belgium, “Research funding and Innovation of Sustainable and Healthy Products” with João Cortez, Funding Advisor of CBQF-ESB, Universidade Católica Portuguesa and also the panel “Sustainable and Healthy Food Choices – challenges from agricultural production to consumption barriers, product development and validation clinic", which featured teachers and researchers Marta Vasconcelos, Elisabete Pinto, Ana Gomes and Marta Correia from ESB. There was also space for a round table: “Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable and Healthy Food Choices” with representatives of the companies Germen Moagem de Cereais, S.A, Primor – Charcutaria Prima, SA, SONAE MC, Decorgel – Produtos Alimentares, SA and Eurest , for the intervention of Mª Cruz Arcas, Scientific Director of AMC Natural Drinks (Spain) on “Innovation in Health, Nutrition and Sustainability through the Valorization of By-products” and Conceição Hogg, professor at ESB, on the challenges of the Higher School’s participation of Biotechnology at ECOTROPHELIA, a competition that promotes innovation and entrepreneurship in the European agri-food sector. After a networking lunch, the event program was completed with guided visits to the Laboratories of the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF).
The Innovation Day, organized by the Faculty of Biotechnology of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, in Porto, and which aims to promote the transfer of knowledge between all interested parties and highlight cutting-edge research in different areas, already has its next edition confirmed for the year 2024.
