The Young EFFoST Day took place as part of the 39th EFFoST International Conference, organised by the European Federation of Food Science and Technology in partnership with the Faculty of Biotechnology of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, an internationally recognised institution and member of networks such as the International Federation of Catholic Universities, the European University Association and the Europaeum, and its research centre, the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF). This collaboration further reinforced the institution’s leadership in promoting innovation and sustainability in the food sector. This historic edition of the conference brought together more than 930 specialists from 65 countries, establishing itself as one of the most relevant international forums in the field of food science and technology.
In this context, the Young EFFoST Day stood out as a space dedicated to the new generation of scientists, bringing together around 130 students and young researchers from academia, start-ups and industry across different areas of food sciences. The event provided an excellent opportunity to expand professional networks, explore new career paths and deepen key skills in innovation, sustainability and entrepreneurship.
Young EFFoST is a group of students and early-career researchers created to promote international networking, the development of scientific and transversal skills, and the co-creation of solutions to current challenges in the food sector. Through initiatives such as the Young EFFoST Day and mentoring programmes, the group connects young professionals from all areas of food science and technology, including postgraduate students and early-career researchers. Each year, the Young EFFoST Council selects, from the conference’s host institution, a group of PhD students and/or junior researchers responsible for organising and delivering the activities of the Young EFFoST Day. This model strengthens the active involvement of young researchers in shaping the scientific programme and promotes shared responsibility, leadership and innovation within the EFFoST community.
In this edition, the organisation was led by Ana Vilas-Boas, Ana Catarina Araújo, Jean-Michele Fernandes and Rita Vedor. The programme included a Wine Masterclass, delivered by the Comissão de Viticultura da Região dos Vinhos Verdes, which provided participants with an immersive experience of the region through the sharing of knowledge about the territory, production methods and the tasting of different Vinhos Verdes. This was followed by a session of business presentations and inspiring testimonials, featuring Débora Campos, CEO and founder of AgroGrIN Tech® and senior researcher at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa; Miguel Cerqueira, senior researcher at INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory; Dina Oliveira, Co-founder and Head of Research at PFxBiotech; and Tiago Brandão, from Super Bock Group, who shared their professional journeys and perspectives on innovation, research and industry in the food sector. The programme concluded with two practical and interactive workshops, offering applied and collaborative experiences: Ideation for Circular Economy – ReEVOLUTIØN6, delivered by MINDSHAKE, and Design Thinking applied to sustainable food systems, led by LIMANADE.
The eighth edition of the Young EFFoST Day, integrated into the conference, reinforced the position of the Faculty of Biotechnology and the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry as international references in the training of young researchers and in the promotion of innovative and sustainable solutions for the food industry.
