Ferran Adrià is to chair a new Department of Gastronomical Culture and Food Science at Madrid's Camilo Jose Cela University. Adrià made the announcement at the launch of Madrid Fusion III, the international chefs' conference held in the Spanish capital last week.
The department will teach students about gastronomy's role in food science, offering courses in nutrition, culture, cooking and gastronomy.
Adrià, the co-chef-proprietor of the three-Michelin-starred revolutionary Spanish restaurant El Bulli, stated that the food industry accounted for 20% of Spain's GDP and that tourism added a further 10%.
"The first university of gastronomy and cooking in our country reflects its importance to the country's economy and culture," he added.