A Portuguese science and technology park is working with Moroccan partners to turn surplus berries into sports nutrition products, with the 2030 World Cup in mind.
Tagusvalley, based in Abrantes, Portugal, is developing energy snacks and electrolyte drinks using Moroccan strawberries, raspberries and blueberries that are no longer suitable for sale in the fresh market but still retain their nutritional value.
The project will reduce agricultural waste while creating products with a longer shelf life and a potential market in sports and fitness.
“Morocco is one of the biggest producers of red berries in the world, but it has problems with surplus and product losses because of their fragility,” Pedro Saraiva, director of Tagusvalley, told Portuguese news outlet Medio Tejo.
The project has produced two main types of sports products: energy snacks and electrolyte drinks designed for consumption before or during physical activity.
The initiative is being developed with Moroccan company HST and the University of Budapest, which is contributing scientific expertise to the formulation of the electrolyte drinks.
The partnership follows a cooperation agreement signed in April at the International Agricultural Exhibition of Morocco in Meknes between Tagusvalley and Morocco’s agriculture ministry.
A delegation of eight Moroccan representatives from agricultural and research institutions later visited Tagusvalley in Abrantes to advance the project.
Moroccan representatives also attended Portugal’s National Agriculture Fair in Santarém in June, where some of the new products were presented and sampled.
The 2030 FIFA World Cup is a potential commercial opportunity for the project. Morocco, Portugal and Spain will jointly host the tournament, creating an international sporting market for food and nutrition products.
“For now, that is the horizon we are working toward,” Saraiva said.
Under the planned model, a Moroccan partner would handle production while Tagusvalley provides scientific support and retains the rights to the work developed through the project.
The partners are now looking at how the products can move from research and testing toward commercial production, potentially turning Moroccan agricultural surplus into a new sports nutrition business.
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