RESEARCH TOPICS FOR XXXVII CYCLE (PON Scholarships – DM1061 10/08/2021)
1) Research topic: Bio-sustainable techniques for the production and transformation of medicinal plants aimed at increasing metabolites with nutraceutical and phytotherapeutic action for veterinary use
1 (one) position with grant
Scientific Tutor: Prof. Stefania Benvenuti
Activities that the PhD student will carry out in line with the topics indicated in Ministerial Decree 1061 of 10 August 2021:
- Selection of medicinal plants for consolidated use in phytotherapy and food supplementation in veterinary medicine.
- Investigation of bio-sustainable agronomic techniques capable of influencing the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in plants and field experimentation.
- Morphological analysis of the treated plants to evaluate the effects on growth and secondary metabolism.
- Chemical-instrumental investigations of the metabolomic profile.
- Study of low environmental impact extraction techniques with particular reference to solvent-free and low consumption methods, with recovery and use of by-products (exhausted biomass, poor fractions).
- Diffusion among producers of the opportunities for new crops with high intrinsic value as an alternative to traditional crops, particularly suitable for marginal areas of the hilly / mountainous belt.
Objective of the research activity of the PhD student:
This PhD project aims to develop ecological production strategies that lead to a product with quality and standardized phytotherapeutic characteristics, in order to provide the market with wellness products, an effective and safe product. The evaluation of the active components with advanced chemical analytical techniques, such as GC-FID, GC-MS, HS-SPME-GC-FID, may indicate the most appropriate use in the field of animal health and environmental products.
The transformation processes used to extract and separate the active ingredients involve the consumption of water, solvents and energy: for this reason the experimentation aims to identify and test methods capable of reducing the consumption of the process and the recovery and enhancement of by-products.
The identification of appropriate, scientifically tested, bio-sustainable practices, aimed at the cultivation of medicinal plants and the use and enhancement of derivative products, will allow to strengthen the profitability prospects of this supply chain, particularly in weak hill / mountain areas, often abandoned. or of little use, with improvement of landscape management, and tourism opportunities.
These good practices could be disseminated among local farmers in the Apennine areas, also through an activity of dissemination of results and appropriate training, for the creation of a quality product of the territory.
All this will be addressed by protecting and protecting plant resources, also through the enhancement of species, a heritage of biodiversity, and adequate monitoring and standardization of the quality of the entire supply chain, from their selection to production in the field, from transformation to control of the activity and residues.
Scientific, social and economic effects on the national territory of the PhD student's activity, with specific reference to the issues of green transition, ecosystem conservation, biodiversity and the reduction of the impacts of climate change and the ability of the project to promote green recovery and overcoming the effects of the crisis in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic:
The active ingredients contained in plants for medicinal and nutraceutical use find wide application for different pathologies in veterinary medicine, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, diuretics and coagulants. In recent years, the use of phytocomplex in the veterinary field has been steadily increasing, even for income-generating ones, in which, with single or large-scale treatment in the therapeutic, preventive or rehabilitative field, it is aimed at replacing and / or coaching. of synthetic medicines.
The increase in demand for phytotherapeutic products is related to the following advantages: reduced toxicity, which allows prolonged treatment in the prevention of disabling diseases that affect the production of livestock; possible complementary use to synthetic drugs, thus reducing the use of the latter; reduced or absent suspension times of the phytotherapeutic product compared to the drug, which confer a benefit on production times in intensive farms; wide field of application for both pets and livestock.
Among the strengths that can be attributed to phytotherapeutic preparations as opposed to preparations of classical medicine is the lack of formation of resistance mechanisms, especially in antibacterial, antifungal, anthelmintic and disinfectant therapy.
Another aspect to consider is the relative lower cost, with the same results, compared to classical medicines, and the significant and macroscopic decrease on the environmental impact of phytopreparations compared to chemical synthesis in the pharmaceutical industries enhances and promotes their use. No less important is the almost total absence of chemical residues in livestock feed, therefore their absence also in meat or secondary products such as eggs, milk and cheeses.
In Europe there are numerous intensive farms, due to the limited territory in which we live, for which a wide use is made of antibiotic and anti-inflammatory steroid products. The disproportionate use of antibiotics has resulted in the onset of antibiotic resistance which has contributed to damage to public health, with repercussions both on animals of the same species and of other species, in some cases even on humans.
In Italy the production of officinal plants covers 30% of the national needs; it would therefore seem easy to enter a production sector that is on trend, despite the economic crisis; in truth it is a difficult market, where competition with other countries of the world is strong, especially on price. The application of bio-sustainable agronomic techniques capable of increasing the yield of active ingredients or affecting the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites is currently not very widespread.
A period of activity (from 6 to 12 months) is expected to be carried out in the APA-CT company in Forlì, a company that, in support of professionals in the sector, passionate technicians and expert breeders, has led to the development of specific formulations based on plant extracts, suitable for promote the normal physiological functions of the organism and promote the support of the natural defenses of the same, in support of the overall well-being of the animal and therefore of the environment.
2) Research topic: Green approaches for the improvement of sustainable food packaging performances
1 (one) position with grant
Scientific Tutor: Prof. Fabio Licciardello
Activities that the PhD student will carry out in line with the topics indicated in Ministerial Decree 1061 of 10 August 2021:
Formulation of biopolymeric films based on hydrocolloids and their blends; coating of food-contact paper; application of nanomaterials in the film-forming matrices; evaluation of mechanical and diffusional properties of films and coated paper; determination of microstructural properties by SEM and TEM and surface properties by contact angle measurement.
Objective of the research activity of the PhD student:
Development of fully biobased films and coated paper, biodegradable/compostable and characterized by suitable mechanical, barrier and surface properties for food packaging applications.
Scientific, social and economic effects on the national territory of the PhD student's activity, with specific reference to the issues of green transition, ecosystem conservation, biodiversity and the reduction of the impacts of climate change and the ability of the project to promote green recovery and overcoming the effects of the crisis in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic:
Conventional plastics, which bear unquestionable advantages thanks to their high performances and low cost, represent a global environmental issue, due to their non-biodegradability which has led to accumulation in natural environments. Plastics also contribute to the depletion of fossil resources. Nevertheless, plastic packaging is an essential item for foods, its main role being the protection of food, thus limiting food waste along the distribution chain. The development of biobased, biodegradable packaging materials will contribute to the reduction of the environmental impact of the food industry and to the mitigation of impacts generated by the post-consumer packaging waste. The project objective is in line with the need for minimizing the use of single-use plastics. The project will contribute to the cutting-edge sector of the development of green alternatives for a sustainable future and will create professionalities which will be highly demanded by both the industry and the research institutions.
A period of activity (from 6 to 12 months) is expected to be carried out at CLS Providentia (Saronno, VA) which will allow to acquire knowledge and skills in the field of nanotechnologies and, specifically, of nanocellulose. CLS Providentia is a start-up company operating in the field of nanotechnologies for the production of innovative products with high technological value and high added value, with minimal environmental impact. https://www.clsprovidentia.org/
3) Research topic: The reuse of agro-industrial by-products as components of animal feed
1 (one) position with grant
Scientific Tutor: Prof. Domenico Pietro Lo Fiego
Activities that the PhD student will carry out in line with the topics indicated in Ministerial Decree 1061 of 10 August 2021:
The proposed Research Doctorate program addresses green issues falling within the new actions of the PON "Research and Innovation" 2014-2020 (Action IV.5) funded with FSE REACT-EU resources (Ministerial Decree 10 August 2021, n. 1061), provides a first phase of finding of data relating to the national quantification of tomato and hazelnut processing waste. Subsequently the processing waste will be characterized from the point of view of chemical composition, and we will move on to the study of the optimal methods of inclusion in pig diets. Special diets will be formulated and their effects on the growth performance of animals and the qualitative characteristics of the meat and processed products obtained will be studied. The PhD student will spend a period of 6-12 months at the Packtin srl company in Reggio Emilia which deals with the recovery and reuse of substances extracted from residues and waste from the agri-food sector.
Objective of the research activity of the PhD student:
In Italy there are numerous sources of agri-food processing waste and among these, the processing of tomatoes and hazelnuts are widespread over most of the national territory and the waste (mainly peels and seeds for tomatoes and film or peel and shell for hazelnuts) are generally used for the production of biogas or destined to waste disposal with high environmental costs. Both tomato waste and hazelnut film are still rich in substances of high biological value (proteins, lipids, phenolic substances, polyunsaturated fatty acids) which, if reused in the diets of animals, could contribute to improve the quality of fresh and processed livestock products, significantly reducing the environmental impact. The aim of the PhD research activity is to study the possible ways of including these products, or substances extracted from them, in the pig's diet, verifying their effects on growth performance and on the qualitative characteristics of fresh meat and processed products.
Scientific, social and economic effects on the national territory of the PhD student's activity, with specific reference to the issues of green transition, ecosystem conservation, biodiversity and the reduction of the impacts of climate change and the ability of the project to promote green recovery and overcoming the effects of the crisis in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic:
The reuse of agro-industrial by-products as animal feed represents a crucial step for the exploitation of waste products, minimizing the environmental impact and lowering the feed-to-food competition.
Food waste reduction and the recovery of processing waste from the agri-food industry for reuse in production processes are of considerable interest and are part of a circular economy path that fit perfectly with the provisions of the 2021-2027 PNR, respect to Green Technologies (Articolazione 4) and Knowledge and sustainable management of agricultural and forest systems (Articolazione 1).
The use of agri-food processing waste, still rich in nutrients, in animal nutrition, allows to transform these into high-value animal food origin, both from the nutritional point of view and from the health standpoint. This would allow a savings of raw materials such as cereals and some protein crops widely used in the feeding of monogastric, diverting these towards human nutrition, thus also favoring a lower demand for arable land, saving water resources and thus increasing the sustainability of agro-zootechnical chains as also envisaged by the Strategic Priority A of the S3 of Emilia-Romagna Region.
A period of activity (from 6 to 12 months) is expected to be carried out in the Packtin srl Company which will allow the PhD student to learn new green technologies for the recovery of substances of high biological value from the agri-food waste to be reused in the production cycle.
4) Research topic: Genetics and genetic improvement of plant root traits: extension of biodiversity, resilience to climate change and impact on food production and carbon sequestration in the soil
1 (one) position with grant
Scientific Tutor: Prof. Nicola Pecchioni
Activities that the PhD student will carry out in line with the topics indicated in Ministerial Decree 1061 of 10 August 2021:
The project will develop genetic knowledge and technologies aimed to release new varieties for low-input agroecosystems. The activities will be carried out on two species taken as a model, a cereal and a broadleaf species, extensively exploiting pre-existing public databases and generating new data. The root traits most associated with productive resilience to abiotic stress associated with climate change and the reduction of inputs (mainly water and nitrogen) will be studied through statistical and modelling approaches, as well as the interaction with beneficial microorganisms of the rhizosphere, and the plant roots role in contributing to the increase of both organic carbon sequestration and microbial biodiversity in the soil. Part of the root trait studies will take place abroad in phenotyping and high throughput imaging platforms belonging to the European research infrastructure EMPHASIS. The genetic determinants of these traits will then be analyzed by association mapping, as well as the extension of allelic or structural diversity at the designated loci. Finally, genomic selection models will be developed to translate the results into accelerated genetic improvement programs (speed breeding).
Objective of the research activity of the PhD student:
Develop genomic and genetic knowledge, and technologies aimed to release new varieties for low-input agroecosystems, more resistant to abiotic stresses associated with climate change, which can contribute to the sequestration of carbon in the soil, as well as to the increase of microbial biodiversity of agricultural soil.
Scientific, social and economic effects on the national territory of the PhD student's activity, with specific reference to the issues of green transition, ecosystem conservation, biodiversity and the reduction of the impacts of climate change and the ability of the project to promote green recovery and overcoming the effects of the crisis in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic:
Providing food and nutrition security to a growing population while preserving natural resources and biodiversity is one of the main challenges facing Europe in the 21st century. The European Green Deal aims to adapt European agriculture to climate change and to significantly reduce its carbon and environmental footprint through the Biodiversity and Farm to Fork strategies. Achieving these goals will require the combined development of new crop varieties and agroecological systems that are both productive, resistant to environmental stress and more sustainable. By developing and exploiting knowledge on the most important root and rhizosphere traits and their impact on crop yield under climate change and low input conditions, on carbon sequestration and on soil biodiversity, the project will contribute to the transition to a more resilient and sustainable society. It will contribute to the growth of human capital through the training of the student, the scientific growth of the research team and the R&D team of the chosen company and of the foreign research institution, and through the multidisciplinary knowledge required including genetics and genomics, statistics, plant physiology, image analysis and genetic improvement, acquired during the project. It will contribute to the osmosis of knowledge and skills between public research and production sectors. In particular to the growth of the seed sector, which in Italy has significant realities that are beginning to compete with large multinationals also in the research and development sector, but not only; agrifood companies will be made aware of the results achieved and could be interested in developing projects for new greener varieties for innovative foods. Finally, the knowledge developed in terms of: identified characters; molecular markers for root traits; developed models; populated databases, are all measurable elements to verify the results achieved.
A period of activity (from 6 to 12 months) is expected to be carried out in the SIS Company - Società Italiana Sementi, which allows for the achievement of both the objectives of enhancing human capital and of transfer of scientific knowledge between the world of research and the world of production. The doctoral fellow will be able to transmit to the company new genetic knowledge, as the importance of genetic improvement for root traits (such as length, root / aerial biomass ratio, ability to explore the soil and interact with beneficial microorganisms), and at the same time to acquire skills in practical genetic improvement, in the production of certified seeds and in the seed market, as well as in the maintenance in purity of varieties of agricultural species.