21 January 2008: The Book compiling the “Catedra Mercamadrid Awards” is Published

Cátedra Mercamadrid created these Awards to promote degree essays and thesis works focused on food research to foster the development of scientific activities that encompass all the links of the food chain, from foodstuff production to consumption going trough the transformation, industrialization and commercial distribution stages and always paying particular attention to perishable foods.

The book contains magnificent abstracts of the degree essays and thesis projects that complement the text contents.

The Cátedra Mercamadrid Award ceremony was held last May 12th at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos (Upper Technical College of Agricultural Engineering) during the celebration of the Academia Act commemorating San Isidro, the school’s saint patron.

For each of the following strategic lines four 1500 euros prizes were awarded:
- Food supply guaranties
- Diet / functional foodstuff production
- Production, quality and traceability of foodstuffs
- Nutrition and health

The members of the Jury were:
- Adolfo Cazorla, Program Director and President of the Jury
- Javier Morales,  Jury’s Technical Secretary
- Pablo Amigo, Chair of the Agricultural EUITs
- Isabel Ortiz, Project Professor at the Upper School of Industrial Engineers (ETSI)
- Andrés Berlinches, Head of Mercamadrid Tecnológico
- Miguel Ramírez, Director of the Mercamadrid Foundation

The four degree essays and thesis projects awarded in this first edition of the Cátedra Mercamadrid were the following:

1. The project awarded in the Food Supply Guaranties strategic line was the degree essay titled “Estudio experimental sobre la conservación de pescado mediante hielo líquido” (Experimental study on the conservation of fish with liquid ice) authored by Mr. Félix Pérez Dueñas, finishing a degree specialized on the Agricultural Foods Industry at the Escuela Universitaria de Ingenieros Técnicos Agrícolas.

2. The project awarded in the Diet / Functional Foodstuff Production strategic line was the degree assay titled: “Estudio de Viabilidad de una planta de producción de leche de soja” (Viability study for a soy milk production plant)s authored by Mr. Javier Becerra, finishing a degree specialized on Industrial Organization at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales.

3. The project awarded in the Production, Quality and Traceability of Foodstuffs
strategic line was the degree assay titled: “Selección de levaduras autóctonas para la elaboración de vinos tintos para Bodegas y Viñedos Trujillo, S.L.” (Selection of native yeasts used in red wine making for the Bodegas y Viñedos Trujillo, S.L. winery) authored by Ms. Elena Abad Arranz, finishing a degree specialized on Agricultural Industries at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos.

4. The project awarded in Nutrition and Health strategic line was the degree assay titled: “Evaluación hedónica de pan de molde por consumidores de distinto origen cultural” (Hedonistic evaluation of industrial cut bread by consumers from differnt cultural backgrounds) authored by Ms. Emma Lage Cañellas, finishing a degree specialized on Agricultural Industries at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos.