Mediterranean Diet Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Mediterranean Diet Foundation (Fundación Dieta Mediterránea (FDM) is a non-profit organization
based in Barcelona
that aims to promote the study, investigation and dissemination of the benefits of the Mediterranean diet
.
The ADDM, jointly with other institutions such as the Barcelona
City Council, created the Foundation in 1996.
The FDDM Scientific Secretariat is located in the Parc Científic of Barcelona, a science park
that houses different research groups and organizations, both independent and affiliated with the University of Barcelona
.
.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
based in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
that aims to promote the study, investigation and dissemination of the benefits of the Mediterranean diet
Mediterranean diet
The Mediterranean diet is a modern nutritional recommendation inspired by the traditional dietary patterns of southern Italy, Crete and much of the rest of Greece in the 1960s....
.
Objectives
Its mission is to promote investigation of the health, historical, cultural and gastronomical aspects of the Mediterranean diet. Another of the Foundation’s objectives is the dissemination of scientific findings about the diet and the promotion of its healthful use among different population groups.History
A group of companies from the food and agriculture sector wished to alert the public of the risks of abandoning healthy eating patterns, especially for children. They decided to create the Association for the Advancement of the Mediterranean Diet in 1995, with the mission of encouraging the consumption of traditional Mediterranean products.The ADDM, jointly with other institutions such as the Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
City Council, created the Foundation in 1996.
Staffing
The FDM team includes Lluís Serra Majem (President), Francisco Sensat Alemany (Vice-president), Joan Castells Gómez (Director), Anna Bach and Blanca Roman (Science Coordinators) and Isabel Bertomeu (Nutritionist).The FDDM Scientific Secretariat is located in the Parc Científic of Barcelona, a science park
Science park
A research park, science park, or science and technology park is an area with a collection of buildings dedicated to scientific research on a business footing. There are many approximate synonyms for "science park", including research park, technology park, technopolis and biomedical park...
that houses different research groups and organizations, both independent and affiliated with the University of Barcelona
University of Barcelona
The University of Barcelona is a public university located in the city of Barcelona, Catalonia in Spain. It is a member of the Coimbra Group, LERU, European University Association, Mediterranean Universities Union, International Research Universities Network and Vives Network...
.
The Scientific Committee
The scientific committee consists of 23 recognized international investigators from 12 different Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean countries. It advises the Foundation on scientific matters and is presided over by the President of the Foundation, Lluís Serra Majem, Professor of Preventative Medicine and Public Health at the University of Las Palmas in Gran CanariaGran Canaria
Gran Canaria is the second most populous island of the Canary Islands, with a population of 838,397 which constitutes approximately 40% of the population of the archipelago...
.
Activities
The FDM has been involved in a variety of activities, including:- Dissemination of research findings through biennial conferences that take place during one of the biggest international food exhibitions, Alimentaria. At the first conference (1996), the Barcelona Declaration on the Mediterranean Diet was signed by the Food and Agriculture OrganizationFood and Agriculture OrganizationThe Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and...
, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fish and Food (MAPA), the Barcelona City Council and FDM.
- Creation of the Grande Covián award in 1996, with the objective of recognizing professionals who have contributed to the study of the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet.
- The granting of Honorary Diplomas since 2002 in recognition of individuals who have excelled in the cultural and social sphere with their contribution to the promotion of the Mediterranean culture. These diplomas are awarded at the same ceremony as the Grande Covián award, at each biennial conference. Individuals recognized in this way so far include Ferran AdriàFerran AdriàFerran Adrià i Acosta is a Catalan chef born on May 14, 1962 in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. He was the head chef of the El Bulli restaurant in Roses on the Costa Brava, and is considered one of the best chefs in the world.-Career:...
,, Georges MoustakiGeorges MoustakiGiuseppe Mustacchi, known as Georges Moustaki , is a French singer and songwriter of Italo-Greek Jewish origin, best known for his poetic rhythm, eloquent simplicity and his hundreds of romantic songs...
, Joan Manuel SerratJoan Manuel SerratJoan Manuel Serrat i Teresa is a Catalan Spanish singer-songwriter.Serrat is considered one of the most important figures of modern, popular music in both the Spanish and Catalan languages...
and Bigas LunaBigas LunaJuan José Bigas Luna is a Spanish film director. He began his professional career in the design world, creating the Estudio Gris with Carlos Riart in 1969. In his earlier exhibitions, at the beginning of the sixties, he showed a great interest in conceptual art and the emerging visual technologies...
.
- Development of distance educationDistance educationDistance education or distance learning is a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom...
courses that cover the nutritional history, gastronomy and various other aspects of the Mediterranean diet
- Publishing of books about the Mediterranean diet directed toward professionals as well as the general public.
- Establishment of institutional collaborations with the objective of promoting educational initiatives around the Mediterranean diet.
- Mediterranean diet workshops in schools.
- A Mediterranean diet bus in Valencia and CataloniaCataloniaCatalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
to create awareness and educate children on the benefits ofconsuming a Mediterranean diet.
- Creation of the Mediterranean Diet Observatory in collaboration with the Barcelona City Council.
External links
- Mediterranean Diet Foundation http://www.fdmed.org
- Website on the Mediterranean diet http://www.dietmediterranean.com