Photo credit: Social Promotion Association The Italian Way.
The Social Promotion Association The Italian Way is the organising body behind the Sherbeth Festival, the world’s leading event dedicated to artisanal gelato.
The collaboration is part of Sherbeth Festival’s newly launched International Scientific Programme, an initiative designed to connect universities, research institutes and industry partners to support research and innovation in the artisanal gelato sector.
The programme has been established through a partnership between the Institute of Bioeconomy (IBE) of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) and Massey’s Food Experience and Sensory Testing (Feast) Laboratory. Feast is internationally recognised for its expertise in sensory consumer science, helping researchers and food producers better understand how people experience and engage with food.
A Memorandum of Understanding signed between the organisations formalises the collaboration and creates opportunities for joint research, education and training activities, scientific outreach and international research projects.
The partnership will explore a range of topics relevant to the future of food production and consumption, including sensory analysis, nutrition, food quality, sustainability, technological innovation, food safety and consumer behaviour.
Feast’s Senior Research Officer Dr Amanda Dupas de Matos says the partnership demonstrates the value of connecting science, industry and culture.
“Collaboration between universities, sensory researchers and industry professionals creates a concrete opportunity to translate scientific knowledge into applied innovation. Sherbeth provides a unique international environment where sensory science, food science and artisanal excellence can come together to advance the future of contemporary artisanal gelato. I am very excited for the 2026 edition.”
Technical Jury for the Procopio Cutò Award at the 2025 Sherbeth Festival where Dr Amanda Dupas de Matos (third from left) served as Chair. Photo credit: Social Promotion Association The Italian Way.
Dr Dupas de Matos will work alongside Professor Stefano Predieri from CNR-IBE to support new research initiatives, educational programmes and science communication activities linked to the artisanal gelato sector.
The collaboration reflects Massey’s strengths in food technology, sensory science and consumer research, while creating new opportunities for international engagement and knowledge exchange.
Sherbeth Festival founder Davide Alamia says the partnership marks an important step in the Festival’s evolution.
“This collaboration strengthens the journey we have been building over many years around artisanal gelato as a cultural, technical and identity-defining heritage. Our partnership with CNR-IBE laid the foundations of this vision; now, together with Massey’s Feast Laboratory, Sherbeth opens a new international dimension for scientific research. Our ambition is to create a space where universities, researchers, businesses and master gelato makers can exchange knowledge, foster innovation and contribute together to the future development of the sector.”
The International Scientific Programme builds on Sherbeth Festival’s vision of contemporary artisanal gelato as a multidisciplinary field that connects scientific research, gastronomy, sustainability, innovation, health and agriculture.
The Programme will feature prominently at the 18th Sherbeth Festival, to be held in Palermo, Italy, from 13 to 16 November 2026. The Festival is expected to bring together 60 master gelato makers from six continents, alongside researchers, chefs, business and food industry professionals.
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