Last Friday, December 19, in a ceremony marked by solemnity and a commitment to health and sustainability, the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) presented the 2023 NAOS Strategy Award in the Business Initiative category. The ceremony, held as part of the XVI NAOS Convention, was attended by H.M. the Queen of Spain and the Minister of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and the 2030 Agenda.
This award recognizes the project “Promoting Healthy Eating and Sustainable Management in Event Organization,” developed at the Palacio de Congresos de València in collaboration with a wide consortium of entities committed to nutrition, sustainability, and innovation in the food and meetings tourism sectors. Among the organizations that submitted this initiative for the awards are:
- Valencia World Centre for Sustainable Urban Food (CEMAS)
- Palacio de Congresos de València
- Les Clíniques de la Universitat de València
- University of Valencia
- Gourmet Catering & Eventos
- Valencian Institute for Agricultural Research (IVIA)
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences – University of Valencia
- Faculty of Teaching – UV
- University of Alicante
The award was accepted in Madrid by Carlos Mundina, Councilor for Climate Improvement and Energy Efficiency of Valencia City Council and President of CEMAS, on behalf of the consortium.
A comprehensive project for healthy and sustainable events
The awarded project not only promotes healthy eating practices but also implements sustainable management models applied to congress and event tourism. A multidisciplinary working group was created to develop the initiative, transforming the Palacio de Congresos de València into a testing ground for innovative tools aimed at obesity prevention and nutritional improvement. [See the project’s explanatory report]
Additionally, the initiative led to the publication of a cookbook for congress tourism events, available in Spanish and English, which was recognized as The Best in the World at the 2023 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.
Within this framework, in 2025 the documentary València’s: The City That Feeds Sustainable Change was released, highlighting the city’s role as a benchmark in sustainable food and gastronomy and demonstrating the impact of collaboration and innovation. You can watch it here: https://lnkd.in/eWdYC3ji
Commitment to sustainability and excellence
This recognition underscores the importance of collaborative work between institutions, universities, public organizations, and private companies committed to a healthy and sustainable approach to event organization. For Gourmet Catering & Eventos, being part of a project of this caliber reaffirms its commitment to culinary innovation, health, and sustainability in every experience it designs and delivers.
Más info en la web del Ayuntamiento de Valencia: València recibe un galardón por impulsar una gestión más sostenible de la restauración en el Palau de Congressos