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All the news about NODES and its innovation ecosystem: projects, partners, announcements, and events.

Spoke
7. Secondary agroindustry
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7. Secondary agroindustry
Companies present innovation projects in the Agrifood sector
The University of Turin hosts the event dedicated to the theme of innovation  New products starting from valorized by-products, new processes for the control of food quality and food safety, digital technologies at the service of food transformation and supply chain control, environmental and social sustainability, circularity...   The event, linked to the NODES Spring Roadshow, took place in the Aula Magna of the University of Turin on March 25 and was attended by approximately 60 people including companies, stakeholders, researchers from the Turin area. North-West.   These are the themes of the stage hosted by the University of Turin and dedicated to the  enterprises of Spoke 7 - Secondary Agro-industry to present the results of innovation projects! The perfect opportunity to show the enthusiasm of many companies and startups in experimenting with innovative solutions!
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7. Secondary agroindustry
Innovation Paths in the Cuneo Agri-industry
The Univerisity of Turin in Cuneo hosts an event dedicated to companies in the agrifood sector The conference "Paths of innovation in the agro-industry" was held in Cuneo on March 12. The event was an opportunity to explore the new frontiers of innovation in the agri-food sector, starting from the results of the work of Spoke 7.     After the welcome and institutional greetings, a session of interventions followed on key topics such as: Robotics and agro-industry, with the design of a mobile robot for collecting and analyzing wine samples. Circular economy in the wine sector, with the presentation of a platform to promote sustainable practices. Communicating sustainability in food & drinks, to improve consumer perception At the end of the meeting, a round table offered the opportunity to discuss opportunities for growth and inclusion in the Piedmont agro-industry. During the event, innovative studies were presented, dedicated to biomechanical nanosensors for surface safety, consumer perception of technologies to extend the shelf-life of meat and the use of agri-food by-products, such as the addition of hazelnut and apple extracts in meat burgers and the production of beer with apple waste.   
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7. Secondary agroindustry
Students' Challenge UNISG: Innovation and Sustainability in the Agri-food Sector
At the University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo, innovation meets sustainability in an initiative involving students, companies and researchers: the UNISG – PNRR NODES Challenge   This training experience is designed to stimulate the entrepreneurial and creative mindset of students, putting them in front of a concrete challenge in the agri-food sector. For the first edition, the protagonists will be the 2nd year students of the Bachelor's Degree in Gastronomic Sciences and Cultures, who will work in teams to develop innovative solutions with the support of mentors and experts in the sector.   The Challenge: Enhance secondary production products   The company Agrimontana srl, leader in the processing of fruit for high-end pastry, catering and ice cream, has launched an important challenge: to identify new processes to enhance secondary production products, with a focus on reducing waste and environmental and economic impact.   Through a tutoring and training program, participants will analyze the context, study possible solutions and present concrete proposals to make the production process even more sustainable and efficient.   A Path Rich in Comparison and Growth   The program includes several phases: February 25, 2025 – Kick-off and launch of the Challenge to students March - May 2025 – Meetings with mentors and development of concepts June 2025 – Delivery of proposals July 2025 – Final presentation to Agrimontana srl   Throughout the journey, the teams will be supported by researchers from Spoke 7 – Secondary Agro-industry of NODES, who will offer skills and tools to face the challenge with a scientific and practical approach. At the end of the Challenge, the best projects will be awarded with awards in products offered by Agrimontana, as a testimony to the commitment and quality of the proposals developed by the students.   This initiative represents a unique opportunity for students to engage with the world of the agri-food industry, develop practical skills and make a concrete contribution to innovation in the sector.  
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7. Secondary agroindustry
Agro-industrial waste: an economic, social and environmental challenge
The Polytechnic course dedicated to agro-industrial waste has concluded   Agro-industrial waste represents an economic, social and environmental challenge within a traditional linear economic model. However, the innovative perspectives of the circular economy and the bioeconomy pave the way for a revolutionary approach: in this context, the course Agro-Industrial Waste Valorisation According To Circular Economy Pillars is proposed as a training opportunity for an advanced management of this waste, converting it from a problem to a resource.   The course, born within the Spoke 7, is a bold initiative aimed at transforming agro-food waste into valuable resources. The course was attended by 7 students with different backgrounds, including management and chemical engineering students, biotechnology students, doctors in agronomy, and mechanical engineering. The course was designed by Tonia Tomassi and Francesca Demichelis of the Politecnico di Torino.   The program addressed the study of consolidated and innovative processes to convert agro-industrial waste into high added value products and bioenergy. The students explored the concept of sustainability and biorefinery, applying them in the processes studied. In particular, the evolution of the concept of sustainability at global, European and Italian level was examined. Subsequently, biorefineries were analyzed, understanding their differences from traditional refineries, and the technical, environmental and economic feasibility of scaling up the processes from laboratory to industrial scale was studied.   After acquiring these tools, students delved into thermochemical and biochemical processes for the production of high added value products and energy. The processes were analyzed from a technical point of view, understanding the operating conditions, and case studies including environmental and economic assessments were presented.   In the practical sessions, students studied the fermentation process for the production of hydrogen in the industrial chemistry laboratory of the Polytechnic University of Turin. Here they learned in a practical way how reactors work, how to manage biomass, the importance of pre-treatments and the operating conditions of the process.   At the end of the course, students acquired the ability to evaluate the effectiveness of a process through three fundamental pillars: technical feasibility, economic viability and environmental sustainability. This training experience allowed them to understand how to manage and conduct technically feasible production with a reduced economic and environmental impact, in line with goal 12 of the 2030 Agenda. The interaction between students and teachers was intense and enriching, with curiosity being the key word throughout the training course.
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7. Secondary agroindustry
Spoke 7 at the Agrifood Tech Days in Freiburg
North West research and innovation themes reach beyond the Alps   The Italian Embassy in Switzerland and the Canton of Fribourg organized the Agrifood Tech Days, a bilateral event to promote collaboration in sustainable agriculture, advanced food production technologies and traditional cuisine preservation.   The event, held at the HEIA-FR University of Fribourg, brought together experts from Italy and Switzerland to discuss the latest research and initiatives in the agri-food sector. Representatives from over 30 institutions and companies, including Nestlé and Givaudan, attended the meeting.   The Piedmont Region, represented by the Minister of Agriculture Paolo Bongioanni, had a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Economy of the Canton of Fribourg, Olivier Curty, to discuss joint initiatives and promote exchange in the agri-food sector. Two members of Spoke 7 also took part in the event: Luisa Torri (UNISG) as keynote speaker and Danilo Demarchi (Polito) who concluded the day by participating in the round table together with Paolo Gay (UNITO). 
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7. Secondary agroindustry
B4HOPES: The beer that makes the difference
From the field to the glass: the social impact of prison economy beer   The research project, led by Michele F. Fontefrancesco of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and involving Luisa Torri, Nazarena Cela and Chiara Nervo of the University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo, aims to investigate the perception of consumers towards social beers, with particular attention to those produced through rehabilitation programs for prisoners. The study seeks to explore how blockchain technology can improve transparency and communication in the sector, ultimately increasing awareness of the social impact of consumers' purchasing decisions.   Our research is fundamental - says Prof. Torri - to understand how consumers perceive prison beers and the crucial role that the synergy between craft beer and social sustainability can have in the market. The meeting between the brewing sector and the principles of inclusion and social reintegration transforms beer into a product that goes beyond sensory pleasure, becoming a symbol of social change. Tools like blockchain allow these values ​​to be communicated with transparency, allowing consumers to make more informed choices, aware of the consequences of their purchasing decisions in terms of social, economic and environmental sustainability.   Hence the need to deepen the investigation through a questionnaire, which allows us to understand consumers' perception of these beers and discover how we can improve the communication of their social value. Why participate? You will contribute to innovative research, led by an interdisciplinary team from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart and the University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo You will help promote a more conscious and sustainable consumption model. You will be an active part of a project that uses blockchain to build trust and enhance the positive impact of your purchases.   TAKE PART IN THE QUESTIONNAIRE
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7. Secondary agroindustry
In Pollenzo the conference "Food fraud: a global law perspective"
An event dedicated to food law and fraud The conference of November 6, organized at the University of Gastronomic Sciences, was the occasion to disseminate the results of the research carried out by Lorenzo Bairati, Michele Antonio Fino and Elena Corcione, with particular reference to the topic of unfair commercial practices in communication of quality and agri-food sustainability and their legal consequences in terms of consumer protection and competition.   To complete our perspective (mostly focused on EU sources), the participation of external speakers at the conference was also planned (Lawyer Ferraris of the Turin Bar Association and Lt. Col. Raffaello Ciliento and Mar. Ord. Fabio Chiariello – Carabinieri Agri-food Protection Unit of Turin) who focused on the sources of domestic law.   The topics of discussion were greenwashing and Directive 2024/825 of 28 February 2024 on consumer empowerment for the green transition. At the centre of the debate were also the relationship between food fraud and Italian sounding, advertising self-discipline, the role of the AGCM and ordinary and administrative jurisdiction, in addition to commercial fraud in the wine sector.
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7. Secondary agroindustry
Apple]house included in the Adi Design Index 2024
A prestigious recognition for innovative design  The Appl[e]ause project, developed by Cristian Campagnaro, Raffaele Passaro, Isabella de Vecchi, Nicolò Buselli and Giuseppe Maroncelli, has been selected for the ADI Design Index 2024, a competition organized by ADI Association for Industrial Design.   This work is the result of a collaboration between the PolitoFoodDesignLab of the DAD - Department of Architecture and Design of the Polytechnic University of Turin and PanaceaSocialFarm.   The research aims to enhance the secondary by-products of the Piedmontese fruit agro-industry, specifically identifying apple pomace as a source of dietary fiber and nutrients. Through a codesign approach, the project experiments with the creation of new food products at increasingly advanced levels of technological maturity, highlighting their aesthetic, organoleptic and nutritional aspects to propose new uses for this production waste in the formulation of 7 new baked goods: breadsticks, biscuits, pretzels, chips, pandolce, focaccia and muffins. Find out more
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7. Secondary agroindustry
Spoke 7 brings its themes to the delegation of the University of Aachen
On October 29 and 30, a delegation from the University of Aachen and the BioeconomyREVIER cluster visited the universities of Pavia and Turin as part of the NODES project, strengthening collaboration between European academic and research institutions. The meeting saw the collaboration and participation of researchers from Spoke 2, 6 and 7, on Green and sustainability issues specific to our territory.   On the 29th, Giuseppina Sandri from the University of Pavia touched on the topic of smart packaging with a speech entitled Development of innovative materials for packaging and smart-packaging from waste products. The intervention was part of the day dedicated to innovation in the primary agro-industry and was organized in collaboration with Spoke 6.   The themes of Spoke 7 were also presented the following day, when the delegation met researchers at the University of Turin. Here, the researcher from the Polytechnic of Turin Diana Massai presented the challenges and opportunities of cultured meat as an alternative protein food to conventional meat produced through intensive farming as a sustainable, “healthy, green and smart” resource. He also provided an overview of the research network on cultured meat that is being created in Piedmont between the various regional universities, also thanks to the support of the Center for Studies and Research on Sustainable Food.    The meeting strengthened the dialogue between our universities and Aachen, highlighting the innovations that the territory is carrying forward in terms of sustainability in the secondary agro-industry sector.
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7. Secondary agroindustry
Roadshow Mezzogiorno: Experts and Companies Gather in Oristano to Discuss Digitalisation and Innovative Projects in the Agro-Industry Sector
On 24 October 2024, the event “Sustainability and Digitalisation in Agro-Industry” was held at the Gran Torre Hotel in Oristano as part of the Roadshow Mezzogiorno. Among the key speakers, Prof. Alberto S. Atzori from the University of Sassari presented the Formidable project, focused on digital innovation in agro-livestock. Dr. Giorgio Todde, an Open Innovation Specialist from the same university, discussed digitalisation and innovation in the primary sector. This was followed by Eng. Lucia Marazzi from the University of Pavia, who explained the cascading funding schemes Spoke6 and 7 under the Mezzogiorno Line.   A roundtable followed, where various companies showcased their innovative projects. Key participants included Iosef Cigagna from Drop S.r.l., who presented the “DAIRY LIFE PRO” project; Giuseppe Diana from C.A.O. Formaggi, who discussed “DIGICAO”; and Marta Polimeno from Agrigeos S.r.l., who presented “SPIDPAP.” Additionally, Emanuele Gosamo and Maurizio Naletto from Primo Principio S.c.a.r.l. introduced “GAINS,” while Sofia Matia Lilli from Agricolus S.r.l. discussed “CEBUS.” Gianluigi Demuro from Studio-A Automazione S.r.l. concluded the session by presenting the “MICENE” project, on behalf of Spoke 7.   The event served as a valuable platform for dialogue among universities, companies, and stakeholders in the agricultural sector. It highlighted how new technologies and sustainability initiatives are transforming the agro-industry in Southern Italy. Following a Q&A session, the event concluded with a networking lunch, providing participants with the opportunity to further explore the topics discussed and establish new collaborations.
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7. Secondary agroindustry
Spoke 7 Researchers Visit South America
Theme of the exchange: the links between food production and environmental and social sustainability The Appl[e]ause project lands overseas. Researchers Raffaele Passaro and Cristian Campagnaro of Spoke 7, referents of the Polito Food Design Lab of the Polytechnic of Turin were guests of the Camara de Comercio de Bogotà and CAINCO of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. The initiative was part of the triangular cooperation project Adelante 2.   The visit was an opportunity to focus on the exchange of good circular practices carried out by companies in the three countries and supported by the relevant Chambers of Commerce: it was possible to present the Appl[e]ause research at the UPSA - Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz de la Sierra - and the Camara Gastronomica of CAINCO.   Two distinct moments – within the CAINCO greenweek – designed to disseminate research, as a good practice, for the valorization of by-products of fruit processing and establish a dialogue aimed at stimulating discussion on the topic of environmental sustainability and social of food production processes.   Pics by: Doriana Dal Palù, Osvaldo Daniel Gutierrez Sumoya
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7. Secondary agroindustry
Responsible food purchases, food pyramid and fake news: the themes of the Research Night for Spoke 7
The activities, in the framework of Unight and Sharper Night, involved a varied audience between Pavia and Cuneo Bringing research outside the University and bringing it closer to the community is the goal of the Reseacher's Night, an event of dissemination that has been a cornerstone of university activities for many years.   The researchers of Spoke 7 took part in the event in Pavia, the Sharper Night, where the research group of the Food Education and Sports Nutrition Laboratory of the University of Pavia proposed numerous initiatives for a wide audience.   The play activities for girls and boys presented on September 27 were created to explore the theme of seasonality and the food pyramid. Similarly, through a game, you could discover the good and bad habits linked to lifestyle.   For the adult audience, instead, presentations were proposed on various topics: from how to debunk fake news, to reading nutritional labels, up to discovering nutritional strategies to organize meals of everyday life but also out of the home.   At the Unight of Cuneo instead it was the turn of an interactive lesson for High Schools. Here, Professor Milena Viassone of the University of Turin, spoke about "How to build a business strategy: examples from the food and beverage sector" .   "Understanding cultural differences and health awareness in food choices: a theoretical model" was instead the theme chosen for a meeting with citizens, a presentation in which the speaker wanted to explain how culture and health awareness can influence the lifestyles of consumers, also determining responsible food purchases.
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7. Secondary agroindustry
Clone of Circular economy and egg consumption
Researchers from the University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo launch a new questionnaire “Uovo circolare” is the title of the project that BEF Biosystems and Fantolino Distribuzione Società agricola a r.l. are carrying out in collaboration with the University of Gastronomic Sciences. In this context of research and experimentation, researchers Luisa Torri, Nazarena Cela and Chiara Nervo have launched a new questionnaire to investigate how much consumers may have a predisposition to buy eggs from farms that promote circular economy processes.   “In this questionnaire - explains Professor Luisa Torri - you will be asked to answer a series of questions regarding personality traits, intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence food choices, attitudes and behaviors towards issues of environmental sustainability and reduction of food waste, propensity to buy “circular” eggs and socio-demographic characteristics.”   Participate in this survey means helping research investigate the attitude of those who want to consume "circular" eggs, obtained from hens also fed with insect larvae raised using by-products from the food industry. Filling out the questionnaire takes about 12 minutes and you can participate until the end of October 2024.   Take part in the survey
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7. Secondary agroindustry
Circular economy and egg consumption
Researchers from the University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo launch a new questionnaire “Uovo circolare” is the title of the project that BEF Biosystems and Fantolino Distribuzione Società agricola a r.l. are carrying out in collaboration with the University of Gastronomic Sciences. In this context of research and experimentation, researchers Luisa Torri, Nazarena Cela and Chiara Nervo have launched a new questionnaire to investigate how much consumers may have a predisposition to buy eggs from farms that promote circular economy processes.   “In this questionnaire - explains Professor Luisa Torri - you will be asked to answer a series of questions regarding personality traits, intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence food choices, attitudes and behaviors towards issues of environmental sustainability and reduction of food waste, propensity to buy “circular” eggs and socio-demographic characteristics.”   Participate in this survey means helping research investigate the attitude of those who want to consume "circular" eggs, obtained from hens also fed with insect larvae raised using by-products from the food industry. Filling out the questionnaire takes about 12 minutes and you can participate until the end of October 2024.   Take part in the survey
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7. Secondary agroindustry
BETWEEN RESEARCH AND BUSINESS
BETWEEN RESEARCH AND BUSINESS: Industrial and academic projects meet Bringing the world of research into contact with that of business was the ambition of the meeting organized by Sppoke 7 at the Polytechnic of Turin. BETWEEN RESEARCH AND BUSINESS it was an opportunity to meet the faces behind the industrial and academic projects that won the funding made available by NODES - Nord Ovest Digitale E Sostenibile and to create a space for discussion between researchers and companies linked to the secondary agro-industry sector.     The meeting was opened by the presentation of Luisa Torri, Scientific Manager and Project Manager of Spoke 7, who introduced the speech Overview of cascade calls for Line A Spoke 7 NODES by Dario Vallauri and Laura Fuso (Polo AGRIFOOD, M.I.A.C. Scpa).   There then followed three moments of discussion on the themes Green Food, Healthy food and Smart Food, the 3 themes that linked the industrial POCs of Spoke 7. To close the meeting, a B2B - B2R space to connect researchers who won the academic POCs and the companies present at the meeting.