ISOPlexis Researchers Enhance Expertise in the Valorization of Products and By-products During Staff Exchange at the University of Parma

From 18 May to 5 June 2026, ISOPlexis Centre invited researchers Carla Gouveia, Carla Lopes, and Fabrício Macedo, together with PhD student and associated member of the ISOPlexis Centre Sofia Valente, are participating in a staff exchange at the Department of Food and Drug of the University of Parma (UNIPR), in Parma, Italy, within the framework of the isUP-AgrO project.

The staff exchange, entitled “Valorization of Products and By-products”, aims to strengthen scientific and technical skills related to the sustainable valorization of agri-food products and their by-products through the application of advanced proteomics, metabolomics, and other omics methodologies.

During their stay, the participants have been engaged in hands-on activities using state-of-the-art laboratory technologies and innovative methodologies applied to food and agricultural sciences. The activities include biorefinery processes for the valorization of grape residues, grape protein extraction and characterization using bioinformatics tools, as well as metabolomics studies based on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy for the characterization and analysis of grape molecular composition.

The training programme also encompasses the application of advanced omics approaches for the study of bioactive compounds of interest, contributing to a deeper understanding of the potential of agricultural resources and supporting the development of innovative strategies for the sustainable valorization of agri-food products.

This staff exchange represents a highly enriching experience, fostering knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and the strengthening of international scientific collaboration between the University of Madeira and the University of Parma. The initiative further enhances the ISOPlexis Centre’s capacity in cutting-edge research tools aligned with current challenges in sustainability, food innovation, and the circular economy.

This activity is part of the project “Unlocking the Potential for Agricultural Research on an EU Outermost Region: Boosting ISOPlexis Centre (isUP-AgrO)”, funded by the European Union. The project aims to strengthen ISOPlexis as a centre of excellence in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Technology through strategic cooperation with leading European institutions, including the University of Parma (Italy), the Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Seville (IRNAS-CSIC) (Spain), and Saturntech (Portugal), under the coordination of the University of Madeira.