Partners
Municipality of Castelo Branco (CMCB):
FUSILLI main beneficiary. This local governmental entity is focused on developing the agro food industrial sector in the Centro Region of Portugal. They have implemented policies and strategies to boost the regional economy by leveraging local resources. The municipality has supported the creation of infrastructures to enhance competitiveness, support production, processing, and marketing, promote innovation and research, and create new market opportunities for local products. CMCB also encouraged the formation of associations representing key sectors of the economy to strengthen the food network.
In 2009/2010, CMCB, in collaboration with the Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, established InovCluster, a Cluster for the agroindustry sector, and the Centro de Apoio Tecnológico Agro-Alimentar de Castelo Branco (CATAA). These entities have played a proactive role in fostering an innovative and cooperative ecosystem within the local food sector. They bring together farmers, food processing and distribution companies, chefs, customers, and researchers to promote collaboration and exchange of ideas, leading to the development of innovative practices in the industry.
CATAA
FUSILLI third linked party. Agro Food Technological Centre consists of four laboratories (physico-chemical, microbiology, molecular biology and sensory analysis) and four pilot units for food technologies (fruits/vegetables, olive oil, meat/fish and dairy products). CATAA is dedicated to research, development, technology transfer and training, with a focus on the agri-food sector. Overall, CATAA covers the full cycle of food science, from food preservation studies and new product development to physico-chemical, microbiological, molecular biology, and sensory analyses. Finally, the cycle is completed with nutritional intervention clinical trials that aim at investigating the effects of food on health.
InovCluster
FUSILLI third linked party Inovcluster aims to increase the competitiveness of local and regional agrifood sector in Centro region of Portugal. It also aims to boost the visibility of Centro Region of Portugal at a national and international level as high-quality food producer, linked with territory authenticity through the use of environmentally and social sustainable systems. For this, InovCluster establishes a cooperation platform amongst the key players of this sector, currently with 156 associates of which 121, are companies, 15 are Associations/Cooperatives, 12 Higher Education Institutions and R&D institutions linked to the agribusiness and agro-food sector, and 8 public entities.
