The Host Lab project won the 1st place of the 2024 edition of the “Innovation Award – Mediterranean Diet”, an initiative that was born with the objective of promoting innovation in the agri -value sector, within the Tavira Mediterranean Diet Fair.
CCDR Algarve explains in a statement that he spoke to the winners to realize “what represented the distinction for each of them and their business area and to inspire new candidates and show successful examples that contribute to enriching and preserving the values of the Mediterranean diet.”
Host Lab is a research laboratory of the University of Algarve Hotel and Tourism (ESG) Hot School and Tourism (ESGL), “which is established as innovative and that unites culinary tourism with Eno-group experiences, with the objective of creating products and services that highlight the diversity of the Mediterranean diet, simultaneously promoting sustainability and local heritage,” says the director and teacher of Ex-ex-ex-ex-ex-ex-ex-teacher, says Alexandra Gonçalves.
In the Innovation Award, they distinguished themselves by the presentation of products based on endogenous ingredients in the region, combining tradition and innovation: oil to block, produced from fresh algarve goat milk cheese, and a semi-fruity that uses cream cheese and carob flour.
The director of ESCLT, and representative of the host Lab, considers that the award has reinforced the credibility of the project and highlights its commitment to the innovation and valorization of local resources associated with the Mediterranean diet, noting that they are “fulfilling a fundamental mission of the research applied within the academic world, and seeking to innovate and create value for our region,” he reinforces.
The value of the prize was used to reinforce the image of the space, with the personalized visual elements that are associated with the elements and colors of the Mediterranean diet.
Regarding the next products/ideas of differentiation, they tell us that they maintain a continuous approach to innovation, focusing on creating new products and experiences that celebrate the Mediterranean diet and local ingredients. “The laboratory is creating room to collaborate closely with regional producers and distributors, as well as researchers from other areas, to develop offers that enrich the Algarve tourist and gastronomic experience”, says Alexandra Gonçalves.
In the current scenario of the region’s agri -food sector, Alexandra Gonçalves highlights that “to strengthen the development and competitiveness of the Algarve agrifood sector, it is essential to invest in technology, sustainability and the promotion of digital agricultural practices”, pointing out the collaboration between local producers, research institutions and the tourist sector for the creation of “different products that value endogenous resources and meet consumer expectations of consumer expectations modern ”. Economic Sustainability Label and Ualg Tech Med are already concrete examples of these partnerships between various agents and researchers.
The Mediterranean Diet Innovation Award is an initiative of the Algarve Coordination and Regional Development Commission, IP (.) In conjunction with the municipality of Tavira as a representative community in Portugal of the Mediterranean diet-UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, the In-Loco Association as an entity that articulates with the producers represented at the Mediterranean Diet Fair and the Mutual Agricultural Credit Cashier Algarve as an entity that assigns the 3 monetary awards.
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