From the 6 to 8 July the First Congress on Biotechnology and the National Meeting for Biotechnology Students was organized by the Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH) in order to bring together teachers, researchers and students to discuss the latest developments of biotechnology in Ecuador.

The delegation that represented the UPS was made up by students of the Natural Resources Biotechnology major, Vanessa Alexandra Banda Cordova, Diana Estefania Gutierrez Pallo, Estefania Raquel Sanchez Casamen, Johanna Patricia Alvarez Messiah and Augusta Natalí Arguello Bravo; they presented two posters called "Cuantificación de  la concentración de oligoelementos y metales pesados en 18 muestras de mieles comerciales  distribuidas en el Distrito Metropolitano de Quito" and "Determinación de polifenoles y capacidad antioxidante en 18 muestras de mieles comerciales". This research was directed by Luis Alberto Valdes Silverio (UPS) and José Miguel Alvarez (Universidad de las Américas, UDLA).

During this congress the aforementioned students had an outstanding participation, and won first and second prize in the posters category. Their work is part of the research project "Study of the chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of native honey in Ecuador, as an economic and viable alternative to public and animal health," which is being conducted by the Research Group on Biotechnology applied to Natural Resources (BIOARN) and co-authored by specialists from UDLA and Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ).

The importance of these investigations is that the polyphenols (part of the components constituting honey) are a group of compounds that are closely related to their appearance and functional properties. However, considering its potential, recent studies revolve around biological and scientific research focused on the polyphenolic composition properties.

The importance of this research is that the polyphenols (part of the components constituting honey) are a group of compounds that are closely related to their appearance and functional properties. However, considering its potential, recent studies revolve around biological properties and scientific research focused on the polyphenolic composition.

Bee honey for its potential and importance, has been considered a resource for research, so far they have identified three groups of families of phenolic compounds including: benzoic acid, cinnamic acids and flavonoids, which in  honey constitute different profiles according to their floral origin. According to the type of plant where the honey is obtained, there will be a characteristic pattern of distribution of phenolic compounds. Generally, the polyphenols are mainly flavonoids such as quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, apigenin, chrysin and galangin, besides phenolic acids and phenolic acid derivatives.

Currently no research detailing the chemical composition and biological properties of the honey produced in Ecuador are recorded, this makes studies of this type important in order to recognize its potential and provide added value to the science, treatments of traditional medicine practices and finally for selling.