During this year's Raiana Fair, Food4Sustainability (F4S) showcased a series of dynamic events to promote sustainable practices in the agri-food sector. Held under the theme "One Health, One Planet," the fair provided the perfect platform for sharing ideas, innovations, and collaborations for a more sustainable future.
The Raiana Fair, a cross-border event celebrating economic, cultural, and gastronomic activities, was buzzing with excitement. Here are some of the events Food4Sustainability hosted and participated in during the fair:
The RegenAg Summit included 23 presentations that promoted regenerative agricultural practices, and showcased entrepreneurs pitching their innovative ideas for a more sustainable agri-food sector.
Powered by the SFT-EDIH, the RegenAg Summit brought together experts from the agri-food sector to discuss the future of regenerative agriculture. The event emphasized actionable steps to improve sustainability in farming practices and food systems.
The World Bioregion Conference at the Centro Cultural Raiano explored regional and global sustainability efforts. Gonçalo Amorim, CEO of BGI, emphasized the role of innovation hubs like F4S in transforming regions like Idanha-a-Nova into sustainability champions. Furthermore, Food4Sustainability operations researcher, Margarida Palma, presented on the roles of soil health in agriculture.
Food4Sustainability’s "Industry Days," organized as part of the Dip4Agri project, allowed deep tech entrepreneurs the opportunity to engage directly with leaders in the agri-food industry. Participants, including students, researchers, and professionals, took part in field visits and networking sessions. These activities helped bridge the gap between technology and agriculture.
The "One Health" Round Table, led by F4S operations researcher, Cláudia Costa, focused on the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. A panel of experts, including João Valente (organic farmer), Isabel Henriques (University of Coimbra), Jacques Naude (organic farmer) and Yolanda Vaz (Direção Geral de Alimentação, DGAV) discussed the role of microbiota in nutrition and agriculture, advocating for collaborative practices to promote holistic health.
Four live cooking shows celebrated local gastronomy, involving even the young people of Idanha-a-Nova, organised in partnership with Geocakes and the CMCD of Idanha-a-Nova, using local ingredients from Beira Baixa to highlight the importance of sustainable diets. Five F4S projects collaborated in these demonstrations: Rede Nacional para Alimentação Equilibrada e Sustentável (RNAES), MEDEAT_BB, In-Salads, OakFood and InovFarmer.MED.
For example, the Raiana Fair hosted an inspiring awareness activity in collaboration with the In-Salads and MEDEAT_BB projects, dedicated to promoting sustainable food and enhancing the Mediterranean diet. The initiative captured the attention of over 20 children, who, donned in aprons, eagerly “got their hands dirty” and prepared a delicious salad made with local and seasonal produce. Guided by the project teams, the children prepared a "Watermelon and Mint Salad", a recipe that embodies the spirit of In-Salads: healthy, sustainable, and based on the principles of the Mediterranean diet.
The organization's involvement even extended to the airwaves as Food4Sustainability participated in live radio interviews on Clube de Monsanto, Rádio Observador, and BBTV.
Whether on the radio or during happy hours, these days were full of knowledge exchange, hands-on activities, and community-building, all aimed at driving sustainability in the agri-food industry.
In conclusion, Food4Sustainability’s participation at the Feira Raiana brought a vibrant mix of innovation, education, and community engagement, reaffirming its role as a key player in driving sustainable agricultural practices in the region. While this blog only shows snippets of the activities that took place during the fair, it reminds us of how Food4Sustainability continues to lead the way in creating a resilient and sustainable agri-food system through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and practical action.
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