The University of La Laguna celebrated the 2026 Enogastronomy Tourism Awards this past weekend, an initiative that once again highlighted academic excellence, innovation, and knowledge transfer in the fields of wine tourism, the agri-food sector, and territorial development in the Canary Islands. The event was presided over by the Rector of the University of La Laguna, Francisco J. García Rodríguez.
These awards aimed to highlight initiatives, both individual and collective, that stood out for their originality, impact and good practices, contributing significantly to the appreciation of local and gastronomic products, as well as to the strengthening of the primary and tourism sector of the archipelago.
The awards ceremony was held yesterday, April 19, in the Congress Hall and Auditorium of La Peña, in the municipality of Valverde (El Hierro), within the framework of the XI International Meeting of Agro-Wine Tourism of the Canary Islands, promoted by the University of La Laguna in coordination with its Chair of Agritourism and Wine Tourism of the Canary Islands, with the support of the Canary Islands Institute of Agri-Food Quality (ICCA).
In this edition, the awards went to the company TURITOP SL, Rural Management of the Canary Islands (GMR Canarias), the Agaete City Council and the researcher Francisco Javier González Díaz, in recognition of their contribution to the development, innovation and enhancement of wine and food tourism in the Canary Islands.
The event highlighted the growing value of knowledge transfer within the university system as a driver of innovation and as a key tool for connecting research with the real needs of the socio-economic environment.
During his speech, Rector Francisco García highlighted the university's role as an active agent in the region: “The university not only generates knowledge, but also has the responsibility to transfer it, connect it with society, and contribute to the enhancement of our local resources. Food and wine tourism represents a strategic opportunity for the Canary Islands, integrating the primary sector, culture, and the tourist experience into a model that generates added value and international recognition.”.
The awards ceremony was attended by prominent institutional authorities, including Narvay Quintero Castañeda, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Sovereignty of the Government of the Canary Islands; Alpidio Armas González, President of the Cabildo of El Hierro; Carlos Brito Brito, Mayor of the Valverde City Council; Pablo Rodríguez Cejas, Island Commissioner for the island of El Hierro of the Canary Federation of Municipalities and Mayor of the La Frontera City Council; and Jesús E. de las Heras Roger, Director of the Chair of Agritourism and Wine Tourism of the Canary Islands of the ICCA and the ULL, among others, along with a large group of professionals and representatives of primary sector associations.
As part of the program, the event included a colloquium in which the award-winning entities and individuals participated, creating a space for dialogue about the experience of the award winners and the
The main challenges of food and wine tourism in the Canary Islands were discussed. Participants in this exchange included Daniel Subires Troya, Business Analyst at TURITOP; Juan Antonio Alonso Barreto, CEO of GMR Canarias; Germán Sosa Perdomo, a local development specialist working at the municipal level; and researcher Francisco Javier González Díaz. The discussion was moderated by Jesús E. de las Heras Roger, who facilitated the debate and the exchange of experiences and best practices among the participants.
With these awards, the University of La Laguna reaffirmed its commitment to promoting initiatives that strengthen territorial identity, enhance local and gastronomic products, and generate economic and social value in the Canary Islands, consolidating its role as a benchmark in the field of wine tourism and agri-food innovation.
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