PRIN AGRITECH (SPOKE 1) - Plant, animal and microbial genetic resources and adaptation to climatic changes

Plant, animal and microbial genetic resources and adaptation to climatic changes

The resilience of agricultural and forest ecosystems under stressful conditions generated by climate change requires the enhancement and exploitation of genetic resources through state-of-the-art conservation strategies, combined with in-depth genome characterization and high-throughput phenotyping.

Activities include large-scale sequencing of accessions/breeds/strains, extensive marker-based genome descriptions, elucidation of the (pan)genome, deep phenotyping, and multi-omics characterization.

The resulting information, processed through advanced methods for the analysis, interpretation, archiving, and management of complex data, will highlight superior alleles/haplotypes, identify beneficial interactions across a variety of conditions, and define conservation units.

PRIN 2022 TAM&SER - The puzzling mystery of tryptamine and serotonin roles in plants: a comprehensive investigation in Solanum lycopersicum.

Tryptamine and serotonin are two indolamines widely distributed in the plant kingdom and generally considered as precursors of melatonin. Many plant species accumulate high amounts of tryptamine and serotonin, even much more than melatonin. However, little is known about the biological roles of these molecules. 

Serotonin might be involved in physiological processes and protection against biotic stresses, whereas tryptamine seems to be involved in both biotic and abiotic protection. Interestingly, recent studies reported the involvement of serotonin and melatonin in endophytes-plant interactions.

The project TAM&SER aims to unravel the biological roles of tryptamine and serotonin in tomato (S. lycopersicum). 

ALIFUN - Development of functional foods for the innovation of traditional Italian food products

The main objective of the project is to develop various industrial-scale prototypes of functional foods using food matrices typical of Italian tradition. This objective will be pursued by characterizing the presence of naturally occurring or added bioactive components in the food and through the prototyping of novel foods relevant to the health sector of the agri-food industry.

The amount of funding received from the European Union for the Institute totals €70,592.67. IBBA’s role will involve evaluating the protective effect of a pasta enriched with artichoke flour (Cynara cardunculus scolymus) in response to steatosis induction. The pasta will be supplied by ISPA-CNR in Bari.

The aim of the experimental activity is to verify the pasta’s protective effects, including antioxidant, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory properties, and its impact on drug metabolism enzymes in rats treated with a hyperlipidic diet.

POSTER

PNRR ONFOODS (SPOKE 2) - SMART and CIRCULAR FOOD SYSTEM and DISTRIBUTION

As part of the ONFOODS Partnership, CNR-IBBA is deeply involved in SPOKE 2, where it conducts research related to the development of innovative technologies for the recovery and valorisation of agri-food waste and the use of biomass obtained for the formulation of new solutions for sustainable, bio-based food packaging.

In particular, in WP2.1 ‘WP2.2: New technologies for food waste recovery’ IBBA coordinates for the CNR in Task 2.1.1 the BIOCOIM-BIOCOnversion of agro-industrial food and waste by Insects and Microalgae project and participates within Task 2.1.3 at the projects NEWPRO-NEW food and non-food PROducts from agrifood wastes and VALUE_PRODUCT-EVALUation of prototypEs from by PRODUCTs/waste. In WP2, IBBA participates in Task 2.2.1 in the projects BIOPACK-New solution for sustainable BIO-based food PACKaging; FUNPACK-Assessment of bio-FUNctional properties of new smart and sustainable PACKaging solutions and PILOT_PACK-PILOT-scale PACKaging solutions; and within Task 2.2.2 in the BIOSAN-BIOchemical technologies for SANitization of fresh food products project.

NUTRAGE - Nutrition, Diet & Active Aging

With a multidisciplinary approach, Nutrage aims to promote solutions and strategies for active and healthy aging, which have significant implications for the future, well-being, and social cohesion of the country. Evidence suggests that nutrition plays a key role in promoting the prevention and delaying the onset of major aging-related diseases. Therefore, the project intends to develop new foods with high nutritional value, new dietary regimens, and specific personalized nutrition programs, and to promote new pathways to support the health, well-being, and safety of the most vulnerable populations. The specific objectives of the project are:

• Development of agri-food (bio)technologies
• Development of new foods with high health value
• Green technologies for the extraction and stabilization of biocompounds
• Identification of early biomarkers
• Innovative strategy for active and healthy aging
• Integrated analysis of the physiopathological bases of aging
• Food culture and education