The Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH), through the CIAGRO-UMH, has hosted a delegation of researchers from the Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering (FZEA) of the University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil. This visit is part of the international program SPRINT UMH–FAPESP–USP, aimed at strengthening scientific cooperation between both institutions in the field of Food Science and Technology.
The centers will conduct joint research activities focused on the valorization of byproducts from jatobá and citrus fruits, with the goal of developing biofilms to extend the shelf life of meat products. Additionally, the Internationalization Conference titled Innovations for the Development of Healthy and Sustainable Foods will be held, featuring Spanish and Brazilian experts sharing the latest advancements.
The program includes lectures at the Orihuela-Desamparados campus on food ingredient encapsulation, legume fermentation, hybrid meat products with alternative proteins, the technological potential of tropical fruits like mamey, and the use of smart packaging for food preservation.
The Brazilian delegation is represented by Carmen Favaro and Marco Trindade, while from the CIAGRO-UMH, participants include Juana Fernández López, José Ángel Pérez Álvarez, and Manuel Viuda Martos, specialists in food innovation and preservation technologies.
In addition to the conferences, which can be followed online, the visit includes technical meetings, laboratory tours, and the design of new joint research lines focused on international projects, scientific publications, researcher and doctoral student mobility, and technology transfer initiatives for the agri-food sector.
This collaboration will drive innovative solutions to address key challenges in the food sector, such as producing healthier foods, sustainable resource utilization, the circular economy, reducing food waste, and incorporating new technologies into future food design.
The SPRINT UMH–FAPESP–USP program highlights the importance of international collaboration in generating knowledge, fostering innovation, and facilitating technology transfer, thereby building excellent scientific networks between Europe and Latin America.
