Dr. Jose M. Ordovas receives the award for his contribution to understanding the interaction between diet and disease, confirming the close relationship that exists between nutrition, genes and the onset of disease. Through his studies he confirms that “the Mediterranean Diet is an excellent accommodation of the genetics of the Mediterranean population to environmental conditions, and is the result of the transmission, generation after generation, of eating habits that ensure greater longevity”.

Dr. Jose M. Ordovas is a pioneer in the disciplines of nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics, Professor at Tufts University in Boston (USA), Director of the Laboratory of Nutrition and Genetics USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at the same university, and Scientific Director of the Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA). He is also a researcher at the National Center for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC) in Spain. He has published over 500 scientific articles.

To date, the following have been honoured with this award:

1996     Elisabeth Helsing, Department of Health (Norway)

1998    Ancel Keys, Redescubridor de la Dieta Mediterránea con su trabajo “The Seven Countries Study” (USA) and Flaminio Fidanza, Università de Roma (Italy)

2000    Gregorio Varela, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain)

2002    Antonia Trichopoulou, University of Athens (Greece) and Dimitrios Trichopoulos, University of Harvard (USA)

2004    Walter C. Willet, University of Harvard (USA)

2006    F. Xavier Pi-Sunyer, New York Obesity Research Center (USA / Spain)

X Aniversario de la FDM: Valentí Fuster, Cardiovascular Institute, Mount Sinai Medical Center (USA / Spain)

2008  Carlo La Vecchia, Inst. Di Statistica Medica e Biometria, Università di Milano (Italy) and Silvia Franceschi, International Agency on Cancer Investigation (France)

2010   Serge Renaud, INSERM (France) and Michel de Lorgeril, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France)

El Dr. José María Ordovas rep el premi per la seva contribució al coneixement de la interacció entre alimentació i malaltia, confirmant l’estreta relació que hi ha entre nutrició, gens i l’aparició de malalties. A través dels seus estudis afirma que “la Dieta Mediterrània és una excel•lent acomodació de la genètica de la població mediterrània a les condicions de l’entorn, i és fruit de la transmissió, generació rere generació, d’uns hàbits alimentaris que garanteixen una major longevitat”.

El Dr. José Maria Ordovas és pioner en les disciplines de nutrigenètica i nutrigenòmica, Catedràtic de Nutrició de la Tufts University de Boston (EUA), Director del Laboratori de Nutrició i Genètica de l’USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging de la mateixa Universitat, i Director Científic de l’Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados (IMDEA). És a més investigador del Centre Nacional d’Investigacions Cardiovasculars (CNIC) a Espanya. Ha publicat més de 500 articles científics fins al moment.

Fins avui han estat distingits amb aquest premi:

1996    Elisabeth Helsing, Department of Health (Noruega)

1998    Ancel Keys, Redescubridor de la Dieta Mediterránea con su trabajo “The Seven Countries Study” (EUA) i Flaminio Fidanza, Università de Roma (Itàlia)

2000   Gregorio Varela, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Espanya)

2002   Antonia Trichopoulou, University of Athens (Grècia) i Dimitrios Trichopoulos, University of Harvard (EUA)

2004   Walter C. Willet, University of Harvard (EUA)

2006   F. Xavier Pi-Sunyer, New York Obesity Research Center (EUA / Espanya)

X Aniversario de la FDM: Valentí Fuster, Cardiovascular Institute, Mount Sinai Medical Center (EUA / Espanya)

2008   Carlo La Vecchia, Inst. Di Statistica Medica e Biometria, Università di Milano (Itàlia) i Silvia Franceschi, International Agency on Cancer Investigation (França)

2010   Serge Renaud, INSERM (França) i Michel de Lorgeril, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (França)

El Dr. José María Ordovás recibe el premio por su contribución al conocimiento de la interacción entre alimentación y enfermedad, confirmando la estrecha relación que hay entre nutrición, genes y la aparición de enfermedades. A través de sus estudios afirma que “la Dieta Mediterránea es una excelente acomodación de la genética de la población mediterránea a las condiciones del entorno, y es fruto de la transmisión, generación tras generación, de unos hábitos alimentarios que garantizan una mayor longevidad”.

El Dr. José Maria Ordovás es pionero en las disciplinas de nutrigenética y nutrigenómica, Catedrático de Nutrición de la Tufts University de Boston (EEUU), Director del Laboratorio de Nutrición y Genética del USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging de la misma Universidad, y Director Científico del Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados (IMDEA). Es además investigador del Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) en España. Ha publicado más de 500 artículos científicos hasta el momento.

Hasta la fecha han sido distinguidos con este premio:

1996     Elisabeth Helsing, Department of Health (Noruega)

1998     Ancel Keys, Redescubridor de la Dieta Mediterránea con su trabajo “The Seven Countries Study” (EEUU) y Flaminio Fidanza, Università de Roma (Italia)

2000   Gregorio Varela, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (España)

2002   Antonia Trichopoulou, University of Athens (Grecia) y Dimitrios Trichopoulos, University of Harvard (EEUU)

2004   Walter C. Willet, University of Harvard (EEUU)

2006   F. Xavier Pi-Sunyer, New York Obesity Research Center (EEUU / España)

X Aniversario de la FDM: Valentí Fuster, Cardiovascular Institute, Mount Sinai Medical Center (EEUU / España)

2008   Carlo La Vecchia, Inst. Di Statistica Medica e Biometria, Università di Milano (Italia) y Silvia Franceschi, International Agency on Cancer Investigation (Francia)

2010    Serge Renaud, INSERM (Francia) y Michel de Lorgeril, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (Francia)

This year’s awardees are:

Millennial Olive Trees and Olive Oil Project Senia Territory, for highlighting and helping to preserve one of the pillars of the lifestyle, culture and landscape of the Mediterranean Diet: Olive trees. By promoting the conservation of a living monument, and with it, producing a fruit that is synonymous of life, health and economic and environmental sustainability.

CIHEAM (International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies) in recognition to their valuable contribution to the dissemination of the values of the Mediterranean Diet through education and applied research in agriculture, food and rural development. By promoting the development of international cooperation in the Mediterranean region.

Mr. Magnus Scheving, for supporting and promoting healthy lifestyle habits among the young audiences through his TV show Lazy Town. To defend the values of the Mediterranean Diet lifestyle and thereby promoting a healthier future generation.

Mr. Magnus Scheving is the creator of the children’s series Lazy Town, broadcast in 128 countries, with an audience of 500 million homes and has been chosen as the face of the Let’s Move campaign, through his character as a super hero named “Sportacus”.

Ms. Ana Cristina Herreros for collecting and disseminating the vast oral heritage the culture and idiosyncrasies of the various Mediterranean countries. Uniting and expanding the cultural baggage that accompanies the Mediterranean Diet through stories and vivid expressions.

Ms. Ana Cristina Herreros is a philologist, specialist in traditional literature and author of novels and an anthology of articles on reading animation and narrative techniques. She is an editor and story teller in libraries, theatres, cafes, prisons, schools and public parks.

Ms. Almudena Rodriguez Sanchez-Beato in recognition of her commendable work promoting Mediterranean food products within and outside the Spanish territory. For her invaluable support for/with the FDM when in office as Director General, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Ms. Almudena Rodriguez Sanchez-Beato currently hold the post of Director General of the Spanish Association of Wholesalers, Manufacturers, Importer and Exporters of Fisheries and Aquaculture (ANIE-CONXEMAR).

The Fundació Futbol Club Barcelona, “Som el que fem, som el que mengem” campaign, for transmitting the values of the Mediterranean Diet and awareness about the importance of a healthy diet and physical activity among the general public, disseminating a lifestyle beneficial to the health of everyone.

The awards ceremony will take place on March 28th, 2012 at the end of the IX Barcelona International Conference on the Mediterranean Diet: a healthy lifestyle to prevent obesity, at 8 pm at the Salo de Cent in Barcelona City Hall counting on the presence of the highest authorities of the city. The Grande Covian Award and the Mediterranean Diet Foundation Award will also be granted at the same ceremony. By invitation only.