Presentation of the Staff Exchange Training Activities – Valorization of Products and By-products
On 29 June 2026, visiting researchers Carla Gouveia and Carla Lopes from the ISOPlexis Center, visiting researcher Fabrício Macedo, and PhD student and associate member Sofia Valente presented the outcomes of the Staff Exchange – Valorization of Products and By-products, carried out within the framework of the isUP-AgrO project. The exchange took place from 18 May to 5 June 2026 at the Department of Food and Drug of the University of Parma (UNIPR), Parma, Italy.
During the session, the participants shared the knowledge and experience gained throughout the training programme, which was designed to strengthen scientific and technical expertise in the sustainable valorization of agri-food products and their by-products through the application of advanced proteomics and metabolomics methodologies.
The presentation showcased the main activities carried out during the exchange, highlighting the laboratory methodologies and state-of-the-art technologies used at UNIPR. These included biorefinery approaches for the valorization of grape residues, the extraction and characterization of grape proteins using bioinformatics tools, metabolomics studies based on proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy to characterize the molecular composition of grapes, as well as bioinformatics-based data processing and interpretation.
The session concluded with the sharing of photographs illustrating both the stay in Parma and the activities conducted at the University of Parma. Overall, Staff Exchange provided a valuable scientific and professional development opportunities, promoting knowledge exchange, technology transfer, and strengthening the international collaboration between the University of Madeira and the University of Parma.
The expertise acquired during the programme will contribute to enhancing the ISOPlexis Center's research capacity in the fields of sustainability, food innovation, and the circular economy, while further advancing the scientific objectives of the isUP-AgrO project.
