The Competence Centre for the Mediterranean Diet (CCDM) was present at the 10th edition of the Mediterranean Diet Fair in Tavira, which took place between 5 and 8 of September. The presence with an institutional stand was, for the CCDM, an opportunity to raise public awareness to this ancient lifestyle that is the Mediterranean Diet.
This year, cooperation was the heart of the CCDM’s intervention at the Mediterranean Diet Fair! The CCDM was represented by the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DGADR), the National Institute for Agricultural and Veterinary Research (INIAV), the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR LVT), the project Food Literacy & Mediterranean Diet in the Middle Tagus (LA&DMMT), which is part of the National Plan for Balanced and Sustainable Food (PNAES), and the DM4YOU project, financed by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).
During the four days of the fair, the CCDM stand was visited by around 500 people, who were able to take part in activities and exchange knowledge.
DGADR, representing the CCDM’s executive board, chose pulses to promote during the fair. With the support of INIAV, it was possible to have a collection of pulses with 15 traditional varieties and to distribute 350 daily portions of pulses. The collection caused a lot of curiosity among the visitors, as most of them didn’t know some of the seeds, such as black or brown chickpeas. As a result, it was possible to create sharing and learning moments, sensitising visitors to the importance of consuming pulses and preserving their traditional varieties.
In addition, with the use of a frame and accessories with sayings related to the theme, DGADR provided visitors with a moment that simultaneously allowed them to share knowledge and have fun with family and friends.
CCDR LVT was present, promoting projects related to the Mediterranean Diet in its region, including the LA&DMMT project, which was able to take an active part in the fair.
During LA&DMMT’s participation, visitors were able to enjoy the hydration corner (with flavoured water and reusable cups) and games adapted to different ages, such as the glory game, word search and “drawing my favourite soup”! With these activities, the project aimed, in a dynamic way, to promote greater consumption of water and soup (vegetables and pulses).
Also with the aim of promoting soup consumption, the DM4YOU project has divulged its work, which includes a clinical trial to assess the effect of soup and fruit consumption on the health and longevity of the participants.
For the future, CCDM intends to continue and strengthen this spirit of cooperation by inviting, in addition to its members, PRR projects with activities related to flagship initiative 1: Sustainable Food, so that they can promote the work they have been doing.
Mediterranean Diet is sharing and cooperation.
