The Querença Energy Bar – BEQ is not yet on sale, but it is already winning prizes and starting to make money.
This innovative product, developed in the Food Engineering laboratories of the University of Algarve and to which the Querença Project gave a decisive boost, was awarded first prize in the “Territory Values” competition, launched by Associação In Loco.
The announcement of the winners of this competition was made this Tuesday, in a session that took place at the Museological Pole of Frutos Secos, in Loulé. Barra Energética de Querença, in addition to the distinction of being considered the best application, was also awarded 2 euros, an award given by the Caixa de Crédito Agrícola do Algarve. The Agrotec and Tecnoalimentar magazines also joined the initiative, guaranteeing the other (non-monetary) prizes.
The second prize was awarded to the “Azeitona Amiga do Coração” project, coordinated by professor Célia Quintas, from UAlg. The third was won by the “Doce Fino do Algarve” project, whose coordinator was the professor at the Algarve university Alcinda Neves.
There was also an honorable mention for the article published in the magazine Agroalimentar on the valorization of aguardente de Alfarroba, by researcher Ludovina Galego.
The top three winners also won the right to publish an article in this specialist magazine.
The first place winner, in addition to the monetary prize, received two annual subscriptions from the magazine Agrotec and Tecnoalimentar. The runner-up will also be entitled to two annual subscriptions to the same magazines, while the third will receive a set of publications and a basket of local products.
The contest «Values of the Territory» took place within the scope of the Technical Journeys «Traditional Fruits of the Algarve: Tradition and Innovation», which took place in Loulé, at the end of 2014. Its main mission was to promote and recognize the merit and excellence of the projects of innovative R&DT that can be transferred to the market, linked to the production, transformation and commercialization of Alfarroba, Almond, Olive and Figo.
In the case of Barra de Querença, all that's missing is the olive, to make the most of the traditional fruit trees focused on the journeys. BEQ, as designated by the coordinator of the Querença João Ministro Project, has almond, fig, carob and honey as its central elements.
This project was born many years ago at the University of Algarve and has now had its final development, in a work carried out by researcher Romilson Brito, coordinated by professor Margarida Vieira. The three thousand euros will serve, according to the professor at UAlg, "to invest in the product's industrialization phase."
The financial incentive comes from Caixa de Crédito Agrícola (CCA), which does not set aside the possibility of having a future relationship with this project.
«The roots of Caixa de Crédito Agrícola are agriculture, we have extended our activities to other sectors of activity, but our connection to the roots is always present», said Fernando Nunes, from the Administration of CCA do Algarve, on the sidelines of the session.
"Whenever there are these initiatives and products linked to innovation, we will be present in supporting this type of competition and, eventually, in supporting the implementation and financing of projects," he said.
In the case of Barra Energética de Querença, it is a potential investment that can be proved. «This is a product with the future, due to its characteristics, because it is good…it will certainly be successful. (…) I really liked the bar. By the way, I'll have to go now to use up energy. I think I'm still going to climb Cerro de São Miguel today», said Fernando Nunes, laughing.
BEQ already has an image and will start to be sold soon
The project that won the “Values of the Territory 2014” award is already at an advanced stage of development. The idea has definitely gone beyond the walls of UAlg's Food Engineering laboratories and the transfer of technology is being consummated, in a partnership involving the university, the Querença Project and the businessman Michael Guerreiro, owner of the Confeitaria Algarvia, in Loulé.
After a phase of testing, manufacturing the product and packaging, everything is ready for commercialization. BEQ even has a defined image, designed by the Querença Project team and designed by Luís Caracinha.
Also right is the presence of the bar at sporting events. The Câmara de Loulé, which was also a partner in the “Traditional Fruits of the Algarve” Technical Conference, will give the project a boost by associating this product with the initiatives of Loulé European City of Sport.
A safe bet, taking into account the testimony of Bruno Rodrigues, from the Algarve Trail Runnning team and organizer of this sport's events in the Algarve. «This bar has everything you need: fast and slow absorption sugars, proteins and mineral salts… it's perfect», considers the athlete.
“I was asked to try it and I loved it. I gave it to prove to other athletes, in competitions in which I participated and everyone liked it very much», added Bruno Rodrigues.
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