Transforming the food system, a collective project driven by research

Alba Aguión, Francisco Javier Álvarez and Lucía Díez are the 3 winners of this 3rd edition of the Daniel Carasso Fellowship, a postdoctoral fellowship program that promotes the transformation of the food system through a systems approach. Their work combines a scientific approach and social impact to meet the challenges of sustainable food, addressing themes as varied as the governance of small producers, the recovery of agricultural waste and rural anthropology.

4 years of support for systems research on sustainable food

Our diet is the source of many imbalances that threaten ecosystems and social well-being. However, this system can also be part of the solution, provided that sustainable models are adopted. Aware that this change requires a solid scientific foundation, in 2021 we launched the Daniel Carasso Fellowship, a program to support young researchers committed to a fairer, healthier and more sustainable food system.
The 3 editions have already supported 8 researchers working on topics such as nutrition, public policy, soil science or marine ecology.

Financial and collaborative support to advance food research

As in the previous edition, 3 grants were granted this year, amounting to €160,000 each, covering the winners’ contract and their research activities over 2 years. In addition to financial support, they are part of the SABE Community (Sostenibilidad Alimentaria Basada en Evidencias), an interdisciplinary network aimed at creating a space for dialogue and cooperation between science and actors in the food chain in Spain.

Alba Aguión

The researcher will join the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB) where she will analyze the role of local collective organizations in building resilient food systems. Faced with the growing need to adopt technological solutions, Alba will explore how these structures combine traditional knowledge and social innovation to address current challenges. Thus, it will collaborate with agricultural and fisheries organizations to identify common challenges and co-construct action plans and policy recommendations tailored to their needs.

Lucía Díez

Lucía will join the University of Barcelona to study how agroecological transitions influence not only the physical structure of territories, but also social and cultural relations. Its objective is to understand the factors that promote or hinder the agroecological transition, by integrating the knowledge of producers, to design strategies towards a truly sustainable diet.

Francisco Javier Álvarez

Francisco will continue his research at the Institute of Research, Development and Innovation in Health Biotechnology at the Miguel Hernández University of Elche. The researcher is developing a process for extracting bioactive compounds from rice straw, an abundant agricultural residue that is difficult to manage and harmful to the environment. These compounds will then be used to manufacture biodegradable and antimicrobial materials for food packaging. In addition to promoting the circular economy, the project creates an additional source of income for small-scale producers, who will be compensated for a previously worthless residue.