Students from the Superior Food Technology (CSTA) course at UFSM participated on September 4th in a technical visit to the 2026 Expointer, at the Assis Brasil State Park, in Esteio (RS). The group was accompanied by professors Grazielle Castagna (course coordinator) and Neila Richards.
During the program, the students visited the Pavilion of Family Agriculture, where they had contact with agroindustries from different regions of Rio Grande do Sul, learning about products, production processes, and strategies for valuing and commercializing food.
At another time, the group was received at the House of the Association of Small and Medium Dairy Industries of Rio Grande do Sul (APIL), by the president of the entity, Fernando Henrique Zimmermann, and the vice-president, Daniel Cichelero. At the location, the students visited the Cheese of Rio Grande do Sul Memorial, a space that preserves and promotes the history and importance of the dairy and cheese production chain in Rio Grande do Sul. Among the highlights is the record of the largest cheese slice, recognized by the Guinness Book.
The visit was complemented by a tasting of cheeses from companies associated with APIL, providing students with the opportunity to learn about the diversity of the Rio Grande do Sul cheese production, also from a sensory perspective.
The activity brought students closer to the productive sector and enabled them to integrate the knowledge developed in the classroom with experiences related to the production, quality, innovation, and valorization of food and the gau agroindustry.
Photo: Personal archive