As part of the FODIAC project, I was seconded to the industrial partner DECORGEL (based in Portugal) in July-August 2022.
Decorgel and its Premises
Since the early stages of university studies, my professional career has always been focused on the research of extraction of bioactive compounds with application in the food and food supplement industries. FODIAC has allowed me to work with the industrial partner Decorgel which produces customised ingredients using natural resources such as bioactive. During my visit to Decorgel, I also got an opportunity to visit the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), located in Braga (North of Portugal), under the supervision of Prof Pastrana and his research team and carry out some work on the encapsulation of different polyphenols and development of oleo-gels. The INL is a state-of-the-art research centre with spacious facilities, state-of-the-art equipment, and welcoming people.
Left image: Lab and colleagues.
Middle and right image: Examples of Oleo-gels containing food bioactive.
My one-month stay at Braga allowed me to meet young researchers like me and enjoy the culture, food and people of this region of Portugal. It is remarkable the really beautiful city of Braga and Porto. I also visited a couple of very famous churches of Braga, it was full of colours and aromas and the impressive baroque stairs, more than 100 meters in height, of the Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary.
