Foro Global sobre Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición (Foro FSN)

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Dr. Cristina Lucini

Miembro desde
Organización: Universidad Católica de Ávila
País: España
Campo(s) de especialización:

Este miembro contribuyó a:

    • Good morning, 
      I congratulate you for your contributions, they are very interesting. 
      I send you a reflection in relation to the issues with which we are working from Spain. I hope it will be of interest to you. 
      Best regards

      The rural world is closer than we think. 
      If we open our fridge or our pantry, we find a wide variety of fresh foods that come from our fields. We talk about “farm to table” because that's the way it is. Farmers are able to produce excellent fresh produce thanks to the best plant material, together with the soil and climatic conditions of our land and an exquisite treatment of the land where it is produced, under the unquestionable framework of food safety. 
      The process of obtaining fruits and vegetables is not immediate, it requires time, tenacity and care for several months, even years, depending on the type of crop in question. These Spanish products are part of the Mediterranean Diet, declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010. This scenario does not only refer to the food itself, but encompasses a culture, an environmental, economic and social benefit in our rural world. 
      It is important to know how the food we eat is produced. Our farmers do an extraordinary job, not only in food production, but as a rural population, they participate in the sustainability of the environment and the local economy. However, they need a generational replacement. 
      Spain has an aging population: data provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food show that only 16% of the total Spanish population lives in rural areas, i.e. some 7.5 million people are registered in 84% of Spain's geographical area. What does this figure mean? That we must strive to improve the quality of life of people living in rural areas, we must seek multidisciplinary strategies to maintain our origins and continue to produce the best food. 
      One of the strategies focuses on young people, for this, we must convince them of the benefits of living in the countryside, providing them with quality education. In this context, STEM/STEAM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and art) are offered as current tools to make rural education attractive, providing valuable and exclusive educational resources, creating vocations capable of becoming professionals in the rural environment itself. 
      The rural world offers us a healthier vision of our own professional activity. It is a key sector in the national economy.


      PhD Cristina Lucini Baquero. 
      Agricultural Engineer
      Faculty of Sciences and Arts
      Catholic University of Avila

    • Good afternoon, congratulations for this work. 
      I am enclosing an experience we have had in Spain. 
      Thank you very much for all the work done.
      Best regards

      A flower can decorate a space. Or it can be used in gastronomy. The project consists precisely in transforming ornamental flowers into edible flowers. Their composition makes them suitable for inclusion in the diet: they are rich in antioxidants and fiber, have a low sugar content and contain no fat. There are two ways to consume this product: fresh or dehydrated / freeze-dried (in both processes the water is removed, although using different techniques). When consumed fresh, the flowers have a short shelf life. If they are subjected to a dehydration or freeze-drying process, the flowers retain their properties for a longer period of time. It is precisely these preservation techniques that constitute the innovative feature of this work, as far as its scientific aspect is concerned. 
      The project posed some challenges. It was necessary to improve the germination process, as well as to carry out tests with the small amounts of product available: since plants are composed mainly of water, little matter remains after dehydration. An organoleptic analysis (related to sensory characteristics) was also carried out, using a tasting panel, to make a detailed description of the product. 
      The name “Inclusive flower” refers to the social component of the initiative: once developed, the flower production process was transferred and scaled to the special employment center of the Valora2 Foundation, located in the city of Palencia and dedicated to the inclusion of people with disabilities. Therefore, it was necessary to adapt the procedures, as well as the terminology and pace of work, so that the production could be carried out by non-specialized personnel. 

      See the attachments: