Havana is currently hosting a significant scientific symposium focused on sustainable food production, organized to commemorate the upcoming centennial of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro Ruz. The event, taking place at the Meliá Habana Hotel, brings together experts and researchers to address critical challenges in food innovation and technology.
Academic perspectives are being provided by University of Havana professors Deborah Famadas Rodriguez and Gabriel Hernandez Rodriguez from the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science. Meanwhile, policy insights come from Dr. Leiverg Félix Martínez Sosa, a specialist in Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy at Cuba’s Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment, who is presenting on the national system of science and innovation programs.
The symposium features a comprehensive program including conferences, panel discussions, poster sessions, and workshops examining current trends in food production development. Key topics span food engineering and technology, food safety protocols, quality control measures, nutritional solutions for vulnerable populations, novel product development, and the application of artificial intelligence in food science.
Engineer Jesús Rodríguez Mendoza, Director General of the Institute of Research for the Food Industry (IIIA) and president of the organizing committee, emphasized the event’s dedication to Castro’s legacy during the opening ceremony. The IIIA, as Cuba’s leading institution for food industry innovation, is showcasing recent achievements including specialized nutritional products for elderly and pregnant populations, children’s fruit and vegetable juices, reduced-sugar alternatives, and various technical and educational services.