More than 50 participants gathered on September 3rd at the Centro de Experimentação Agrária de Tavira (CEAT) for the seminar "Innovation in Endogenous Products | The Mediterranean Diet and Cultural Heritage", which took place as part of the XII Mediterranean Diet Fair. The event was promoted under the INOVA ALGARVE 3.0 program, coordinated by the Regional Development Planning Unit of the Coordination and Regional Development Commission (CCDR) of Algarve and co-funded by the ALGARVE 2030 Regional Program.
The seminar brought together specialists, entities, projects and regional agents linked to heritage, production and territorial development, with the aim of reflecting on the safeguarding and valorization of Algarve's endogenous products and their connection to the knowledge, traditions and production methods of the region. The session included interventions by Paula Hipólito Ferreira on geographical indications and guaranteed traditional specialties, and by Maria Antónia Amaral, from the Instituto dos Museus e da Conservação (Cultural Heritage, I.P.), on the role of inventorying and classifying movable and immovable cultural heritage.
The event concluded with a round table moderated by Miguel Mota e Costa, from CCDR Algarve, with the participation of João Ministro, from the INOVA ALGARVE 3.0 project, Elisabete Rocha, from Telheiros Alberto Rocha, André Coelho, from AGRUPA, José Oliveira, from AlgarOrange, and Jorge Raiado, from Salmarim. The participants discussed ways to preserve heritage and regional traditions, linking this protection with innovation and new opportunities for endogenous products.
According to CCDR Algarve, the valorization of these products requires shared responsibility, involving producers, entities, territorial agents and policy makers. The organization framed the seminar within its strategy of valorizing endogenous resources and using innovation as an instrument for regional development, seeking to strengthen the connection between knowledge, heritage, tradition and value creation in the territory.
