NOVA Medical School recently received a visit from members of FoodLink, a network made up of territories, initiatives and actors from the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, with the aim of planning and managing the food system of its entire area.
This meeting was an opportunity to introduce NOVA Medical School to the initiative's partners, presenting the noble spaces, laboratory and Kitchen Lab, as well as the school's community outreach projects, such as the Summer Medical School, and the contributions that the institution has to offer FoodLink.
The visit was led by Professors Conceição Calhau and Diana Teixeira, but was also attended by the Pro-Rector for Sustainability at NOVA University Lisbon (UNL), Professor Júlia Seixas, who demonstrated UNL's commitment to sustainability.
The mission of NOVA Medical School's community outreach is aligned with FoodLink's principles: to promote a sustainable, inclusive and resilient metropolitan food system.
During the visit, the commitments to:
✅ Sustainability - Ensuring healthy and responsible food, respecting the nexus of soil, water, biodiversity and energy;
✅ Circular Economy - Fostering proximity and resilience strategies, creating jobs, promoting health and well-being, and adapting to climate change;
✅ Mediterranean Diet.
The highlight of the visit took place in the Kitchen Lab, during a practical workshop on preparing Mediterranean snacks using local products bought in the markets around the college. This moment focused on the ‘from meadow to plate’ dynamic, celebrating the Mediterranean diet, showing NOVA Medical School's commitment to transferring practical skills and also strengthening ties between the network's partners, who at the end, in a spirit of conviviality - as the Mediterranean pattern suggests - tasted what they had made.
Together, we want to build a healthier, more inclusive and sustainable food future!