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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.

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). 

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

The Spoke 7 present at the VIII National Conference of the Italian Society of Sensory Sciences The perception of tastes can vary depending on the temperature of the food: they are studying this at the University of Gastronomic Sciences, Luisa Torriand Chiara Chirilli, who at the VIII National Conference of the Italian Society of Sensory Sciences Alghero received the SISS Young Researchers award.   This work represents a preliminary mapping of Thermal Tasters and Thermal Non-Tasters to better understand the potential discriminating factors and to provide indications on the possible impact of Thermal Taster Status on taste perception and potentially on food preferences.   At the conference, the study themes of the Spoke 7 flagship projects were also represented by the studies of Luisa Torri and Nazarena Cela: not only Thermale Taster was talked about Status, but also of Digital labels to communicate the sustainability of wine: impact on the emotional and hedonic response of consumers

Special mention to the poster “Nutrition labeling and analysis of consumer perception of food products” Nutrition labeling and analysis of consumer perception of food products is the title of the work that earned Federica Quintiero (University of Pavia ), Spoke 7 Research Technologist, a Special Mention as Best Scientific Contribution Award at the National Congress ASAND (Scientific Association of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, Naples, 14-16 March 2024).   The poster is the result of research born from the collaboration of Cinzia Ferraris and Federica Quintiero(University of Pavia) with Luisa Torri and Nazarena Cela (University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo).   “This project was born from the idea of ​​investigating consumers' attitudes towards nutrition labels and how they influence food choices”, explains Dr. Quintiero. “The data were collected via an online questionnaire, administered between November 2023 and March 2024, with questions relating to personality traits, eating habits socio-demographic characteristics, adherence to the Mediterranean diet and other factors that influence the understanding of the information reported on the label". 

At the center of the meeting, the Spoke's skills development initiatives Involving stakeholders linked to secondary agroindustry issues was the objective of the Stakeholder Committee which was held virtually today, March 22.   At the center of the meeting was a real-time survey dedicated to one of the most important themes for the NODES project: training and skills development initiatives. Thanks to the survey it was possible to identify which, according to the group of stakeholders, are the categories most in need of training linked to the spoke themes and which themes can be developed on. Many ideas and ideas emerged, which will allow us to develop more targeted strategies.   The themes that characterized the meeting, in addition to training, were the results of the Line A/B and Line A Mezzogiorno tenders, an update on the themes of the roadmap of research and innovation. We then talked about the new working groups dedicated to internationalization and entrepreneurial development.