Health, ecology, trends in prepared meals, territory, impact and social inclusion shape the synergies of the global project driven by the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera through MANS Agrosocials and the Fundació Alícia. Food is the common thread: a commitment that goes beyond the promotion of healthy habits to also become a driver of territorial development and a tool for social integration for people in situations of vulnerability or at risk of exclusion.

The major distribution companies in Spain have warned that private consumption shows "slight signs of exhaustion" caused by the war in Iran, at the annual meeting that the entity grouping them (Aecoc) held this Tuesday in Barcelona. Domestic consumption and investment have marked the good performance of the Spanish economy once the pandemic hecatomb was overcome. Now, the president of Aecoc, José María Bonmatí, has assured that "we are still in very positive ratios", but has warned that "the consumer confidence index is not particularly sky-high". "Crises begin and end when the consumer perceives it that way," he recalled.

Although the scenario is not the same as in 2022 or 2023, at the height of the inflationary crisis, the cost of living remains high: 2025 ends with an average inflation rate of 2.7%, so it's impossible to speak of a normalization of prices, considering the European Central Bank's 2% target. The main concern lies in the price behavior of some basic necessities, such as housing, currently one of the biggest problems in Spain and Catalonia. In fact, 2025 ends with warning signs regarding the cost of real estate, whether rented or purchased, as well as the cost of food.

In 1975, following a conference on recombinant DNA in Asilomar, California, a moratorium—self-imposed and widely accepted by experts—came into effect to allow time to assess the risks of the new technology, which for the first time allowed the mixing of genetic material from different species, thus creating modified organisms. The potential applications were fabulous, as was the possibility of generating unimaginable disasters. It was necessary to carefully consider the consequences of using the knowledge that had been acquired and to agree on minimum regulations that everyone could follow.

The heat of the summer months can be a threat when consuming certain foods, and beyond considering hygiene conditions, it's necessary to pay attention to temperature. "From the perspective of food safety, the main problem in summer is the breaking of the cold chain in raw foods," explains José Juan Rodríguez, professor in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). According to him, several aspects must be taken into account.

Ukraine is known as Europe's breadbasket. Last year alone, the country led by Volodymir Zelensky produced 86 million tons of grain and is one of the world's leading exporters of cereals. The data is convincing: it is the fourth biggest exporter of corn (16%) and wheat (12%) and the largest exporter of sunflower oil, with 50% of world exports, followed by Russia with 30%. Moreover, 41.3% of the corn that Spain receives comes from Ukraine (in the European Union it is 55%) and the same happens with 10% of the wheat.

Electricity prices have once again marked the monthly consumer price index (CPI). This December, the price increase was 6.7% compared to a year ago, more than one point above November's rate (5.5%), and has become the highest level since 1992. The main reason is the upward spiral in electricity prices and, to a lesser extent, food prices. Month on month, prices have risen by 1.3%, according to advanced data published this Monday by the National Institute of Statistics (INE).