A sushi-inspired dessert without fish will represent Romania at the European stage of Ecotrophelia Europe, a competition dedicated to future food industry specialists, after the national round, held on Thursday in Oradea, was won by a team of students from the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (USAMV) in Bucharest.

The 12th national edition of the Ecotrophelia Europe competition, organised for the first time by the University of Oradea, brought together four student teams from Bucharest (two teams), Galati and Oradea in a showcase of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit applied to the food industry.

Following a day of presentations and tastings at the Bihor Science and Technology Park, the jury announced the winners on Thursday, with first place going to the 'Annona Roll' team, made up of Cezar Hugeanu and Alina Nitan and coordinated by Daniela Grigore, from USAMV Bucharest.

'Annona Roll is a dessert inspired by the shape of sushi, but without fish. It contains rice with coconut milk and jelly made from cherimoya puree gelled with agar-agar, in two colours: pink, imitating salmon, and green, imitating cucumber. The wrapping is an edible membrane made from blueberry puree and rejected apples recovered to reduce food waste. All components are sweet and entirely edible,' Cezar Hugeanu told AGERPRES.

Second place went to 'Galfis,' developed by students from the 'Dunarea de Jos' University of Galati. The product is an artisanal biscuit containing physalis powder and designed to make use of aesthetically imperfect fruit and reduce food waste.

Third place was awarded to the University of Oradea team for 'Hrib Dog,' a vegan alternative to frankfurters made from porcini mushrooms recovered from processing streams, soy protein and natural spices. The product is packaged in an edible casing and includes a Smart Label QR code system providing full transparency regarding ingredients and origin.

The jury also awarded the special 'Petru Alexe' prize to Team 7AM, also from USAMV Bucharest, for a premium flavoured coffee based on tigernut, coconut milk and star anise, available either as an energy cube or as an instant sachet with edible packaging.

'Ecotrophelia is a competition in which students present innovative ideas developed into finished products capable of meeting the needs of modern consumers. These new products represent the future of the food industry both nationally and, why not, at European level. This competition, now held in Oradea at national level, is not only about creativity, but also about courage, research and confidence. It also provides a framework in which students meet the business community,' Cristian Dima, president of the Romanian Association of Food Industry Specialists (ASIAR) and organiser of the competition, told AGERPRES.

University of Oradea vice-rector Sanda Filip said a university truly fulfils its mission when it is connected to the socio-economic environment and when students manage to put into practice what they learn.

'Students should be encouraged to take part in competitions and European-scale projects because this is how performance and the spirit of excellence are built. I wish you always to aspire to the highest achievements and to win the gold medal for Romania,' she said.

The prizes offered by ASIAR amounted to 2,000 lei for first place, 1,500 lei for second place and 1,000 lei for third place, plus the special 'Petru Alexe' prize worth 1,000 lei.

The competition was organised by the University of Oradea, through its Department of Food Products Engineering headed by Adrian Timar (Faculty of Environmental Protection), in cooperation with ASIAR and the Bihor Science and Technology Park.

The European final of Ecotrophelia Europe will bring together teams from 17 countries in Paris in October under the aegis of SIAL Paris, confirming the competition as one of Europe's leading food innovation platforms for students. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Eugenia Pasca; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)