Food4Sustainability participated in the XI Mediterranean Diet Fair in Tavira

From September 4 to 7, Tavira welcomed thousands of visitors to celebrate the XI Mediterranean Diet Fair, an event that brought together tradition, science, innovation, and cooperation around a heritage recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Food4Sustainability was present at this edition, promoting activities and sharing projects that reflect its mission to foster more sustainable, healthy, and innovative food systems.

One of the central highlights of the fair was the seminar “Innovation and Sustainability in the Mediterranean Diet”, held on September 5 at the Tavira Agrarian Experimentation Center, where the results of eight projects funded by the PRR were presented, including RNAES and OakFood, both coordinated by Food4Sustainability.

Over the four days, the Food4Sustainability stand became a space for interaction and discovery: visitors could taste the acorn paste developed under the OakFood project, take part in educational games from the FoodUnfolded project such as the “protein trump cards” and the “fridge Tetris,” learn more about the Grow schools, and test their knowledge with interactive quizzes at the farmers’ market. Visitors also had the opportunity to try an innovative pesto developed within the Ampliaqua project, showcasing the role of science and innovation in enhancing the Mediterranean Diet.

The fair also hosted key moments of food governance, particularly the presentation of the Governance Model of the National Network for a Balanced and Sustainable Diet (RNAES), which sets out a collaborative framework to strengthen healthier and more sustainable food systems in Portugal. Within the scope of RNAES, a citizen science app was also launched, enabling users to assess their adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and share recipes, directly engaging citizens in building a more balanced food future.

More than a cultural and gastronomic event, the XI Mediterranean Diet Fair was a space for community gathering and celebration, where tradition intersected with scientific knowledge and agri-food innovation.

For Food4Sustainability, this participation was a unique opportunity to share projects, engage the public in interactive experiences, and reinforce the importance of the Mediterranean Diet as a model of health, sustainability, and cooperation.