In the middle of this year, the UA-Dénia Mediterranean Gastronomy Center (GASTERRA) launched a call for the promotion of R+D+i in the field of gastronomy, awarding two of them to researchers associated with the Montgó Research Station -Denia-UA. Now, they reach their final stretch.
Projects
In the last decade, the implementation of underwater cellars has experienced a significant boom, which is why scientific studies are necessary to rigorously establish the effect that physical-chemical parameters have on the maturation process. The objective of this project is to enable (by carrying out the projects and technical reports necessary to manage the concession before the competent administration to Coasts) an underwater space on the Dianense coast as an experimental area for the development of
different proofs of concept and experiments that can adequately test the influence that maturation under the sea has on the organoleptic properties of different foods, as well as establish a point of experimentation for studies of "biofouling" (accumulation of living organisms on a submerged surface) Y
settlement of benthic species, and measurement of different oceanographic variables such as temperature, salinity, transparency, currents or wave height. These parameters will be monitored using CTD profiles (acronym for conductivity -salinity-, temperature and depth, in English), current meters and an oceanographic buoy.
This project also includes a pilot test with 30 bottles to determine the effect of the marine environment on the physical-chemical and sensory properties of the wine. At the end of July these were filled with muscatel wine from the Les Freses de Jesús Pobre winery and currently researchers from the UA Department of Agrochemistry and Biochemistry are analyzing bottles that have already spent two months submerged and their respective controls in the terrestrial cellar. The pilot project will end when the last bottles (after six months in the water) are extracted from the bottom
marine.
improvement and synergy.
In the last five years, both in Spain and in the world, projects have been carried out to promote the gastronomic sector as a key ally for responsible and sustainable fishing over time. However, in order to carry out this type of initiative, it is first necessary to have a basic scientific study to know the current state of the use of natural resources (in this case fishing) and the demands of the
gastronomy in the study area. Establishing synergies with the project "Comprehensive Marine Observatory on the coast of the Marina Alta for the conservation of biodiversity, observation of global change and promotion of the blue economy" financed by the "Think in blue" call of the Ministry of Innovation, Universities and Science, the objectives are:
Based on surveys carried out in restaurants in the region, there is a demand for local fish that could be covered if catches were increased, and to increase catches it is necessary to increase the protected area (fishing reserves) on the coast of the region, ideally reaching 30%. In this way, in a few years (3-4 years) coastal fishing production would be multiplied by up to 3 or 4, and the quantity of fish within the reserve could be multiplied by up to 10 -which would facilitate the development of diving as an activity sustainable -, as has already happened in other reserves in the Mediterranean.
Undoubtedly, in the words of the coordinator of the Montgó-Dénia-UA Research Station, Dr. Cesar Bordehore Fontanet, the initiative of the Dénia City Council and the UA is an even international benchmark for the promotion of applied municipality-university research, in this case in the field of gastronomy. And in the case of the two projects in which the Montgó-Dénia-UA Research Station participates, they reinforce the UA's commitment to bringing research closer to the territory (https://web.ua.es/es/sedes-aulas-y -seasons.html).
The Montgó-Dénia-UA Scientific Station emerged in 2016 by agreement between different public entities such as the University of Alicante, the Dénia City Council, the Autonomous Organization of National Parks and the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, Climate Emergency and Ecological Transition.
What interesting things! And this is not talked about in the street (businessmen) or in the City Council? (maybe yes, but more diffusion of this kind of interesting things is needed)