Application sectors

INNOVAZIONS AND RESOURCES FOR THE OPTIMIZATION OF THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND ECO-SUSTAINABLE PHYTOSANITARY DEFENSE OF CROPS

This trajectory includes all innovations and technologies for the optimization of the phytosanitary and nutritional status of crops, while simultaneously reducing their environmental impact. These include strategies for reducing phytosanitary treatments and the use of less impactful active ingredients; biotechnologies applied to obtaining high-quality products, to the genetic improvement of the response to environmental stress, and to the defense against plant and animal pests; the analysis and reproduction of specific ecosystems functional to local crops; the optimization of ecological and microbial relationships between plant, soil, and environment; technologies capable of detecting the presence of pathogens and pests to reduce the use of plant protection products and increase their effectiveness; the analysis and use of biodiversity in local agricultural production.

DEVELOPMENT OF MORE EFFICIENT PRODUCTS AND EQUIPMENT AND ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES FOR ORGANIC AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION THE OPTIMIZATION OF THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND ECO-SUSTAINABLE PHYTOSANITARY DEFENSE OF CROPS

This trajectory includes all interventions and enabling and innovative technologies supporting the efficiency and quality of organic agricultural production. It includes innovations aimed at the conservation of soil organic matter and the resulting microbial vitality, the valorization of plant biodiversity for pest defense, and the recovery of high-quality ancient and traditional agricultural specialties.

IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CONSUMERS THROUGH FOODS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING USEFUL AND FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS FOR IMPROVING HEALTH STATUS

This trajectory aims to improve the health and well-being of consumers through the consumption of healthier or beneficial foods. This context includes innovations and development processes for new functional ingredients or those with added substances (e.g., biopeptides, omega-3, or others), innovations in the nutraceutical field, the use of combined raw materials for products focused on human nutrition (e.g., addressing problems of intolerance, allergy, or disease causes); the use of biomarkers for personalized medicine; the development and introduction of innovative DNA-based methods. Consistent with this trajectory are also innovations that improve food quality, such as the development of fertilizers for improving the nutritional properties of the product; livestock management through animal health and welfare monitoring systems; field ripening control systems to improve the organoleptic quality of agricultural production; detection systems for important analytes in the agri-food sector, including the development of biosensors; solutions for improving the processes and techniques of sensory analysis of food.

DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE SYSTEMS FOR FOOD PROCESSING

This trajectory aims at the introduction of new and innovative techniques in the field of food processing, such as for example regarding refrigeration, freezing, the transport of agri-food products, or their transformation into “ready-to-use” products.

INNOVATIVE AND MORE SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING FOR AGRI-FOOD PRODUCTS

This trajectory involves interventions for the development of innovative and more sustainable packaging for agri-food products. The trajectory includes non-invasive solutions for in-line and laboratory control of packaging integrity and for the detection of contaminants and foreign bodies in food products; the use of materials (including “active” ones) that do not release contaminants into food; innovative solutions and higher-performing sensors for improving the shelf life of agri-food products and for identifying potential contamination; the development of innovative natural preservatives (e.g., biofilms, phytoextracts, etc.); innovative solutions for monitoring the cold chain.

DEVELOPMENT OF METHODS AND TECHNOLOGIES IN FAVOR OF INTEGRATED SYSTEMS BETWEEN AGRI-FOOD, TOURISM, AND ECOLOGY

This trajectory is dedicated to innovative interventions for the integration of various agri-food, tourism, and environmental protection activities, aimed at the socio-economic valorization of the territory. This context also includes innovations that can enhance prestigious agricultural-forestry productions to provide production continuity and life to the areas involved. Supporting this trajectory, applications of innovative digital technologies can intervene for the multifunctional valorization of territorial and cultural heritage, also compatible with international certification systems.

DEVELOPMENT OF COMPLETE TRACEABILITY SYSTEMS

This theme includes innovations to develop complete traceability systems for the entire supply chain, from raw material to consumer, with geographical indication of the production territory and indications of health and nutritional elements and data. It includes innovations aimed at developing integrated hardware-software systems for the labeling and traceability of agri-food products and for the control of production and harvesting activities, in order to guarantee the authenticity of certified products; the application and research of genomic methods, based on DNA, for the identification, traceability, and control of microorganisms (bacteria, yeasts, and molds); innovations for the traceability of the agri-food product and the identification of quality parameters through the use of innovative analytical technologies; the design of customized databases for each type of food, or food product, with the aim of scientifically defining the actual origin of the product from the area declared on the label. Furthermore, it includes the traceability of product sales and innovations in the connection between the client and the supply system for product tracking (introduction of ICT).

RECOVERY OF BY-PRODUCTS DERIVING FROM THE PRODUCTION / PROCESSING ACTIVITIES OF AGRI-FOOD SUPPLY CHAINS

This trajectory includes all innovative solutions useful for converting agri-food and forestry waste into value-added products with lower environmental impact (e.g., new materials, bioplastics for smart packaging or derived from bioethanol, green chemistry); recovery and transformation of waste from the agri-food industry for the production of energy (e.g., biogas) or fertilizers/food/feed for the primary sector; solutions for monitoring/managing resources through the use of big data and ICT; development of solutions for the reuse and valorization of waste from primary processing (e.g., olive oil mill wastewater or recovery of polyphenols from agri-food production).

PRODUCT RECOGNIZABILITY AND COMMUNICABILITY

This trajectory supports innovative interventions for product recognizability and communicability. For example, it includes innovative techniques aimed at User Experience; the introduction of sustainability protocols in agri-food production, leading to the comprehensive certification of product, company, and district, oriented towards the valorization of the Veneto territory, also implementing co-marketing actions with the tourism sector of Veneto.