The use of biochar, obtained from the valorization of agro-residual biomass, as functional feed for monogastric animals.
Dottorati PON – Bando 2021 – Ciclo 37 (XXXVII) – DM 1061 del 10 agosto 2021
Azione IV.4 – Dottorati e contratti di ricerca su tematiche dell’innovazione
Azione IV.5 – Dottorati su tematiche Green
The chestnut by-products (shells, burs, and leaves) will be evaluated, throughout both in vitro and in vivo approaches, as functional ingredients (antioxidant and antimicrobial properties) in the pig nutrition to establish their effect on animal health and gut microbial population as alternatives to antibiotics.
Additionally, the mechanisms of biochar as a potential feed additive and the benefits related to improving the health and performance of farm animals, specifically the pigs, will be investigated.
The research will be carried out in collaboration with Bionutralab, a start-up working in the agriculture and biotechnologies sectors.
Graduated in Agricultural Sciences at the University of Sacro Cuore in Piacenza. She worked as Research Scientist – Project leaderin an Italian private biotechnology company. Her research activity was focused on medical molecular farming, e.g.,the expression of the human proteins in tobacco plants as an alternative therapy production for lysosomal diseases (Gaucher and Pompe diseases), and human proteins involved in the cholesterol pathway (LCAT and Apolipoprotein AI). Specialist in molecular genetics, molecular analysis, protein analysis, construct design, plant transformation by Biolistic/Agrobacterium methods, and gene expression. Also, she has experience as a tobacco breeder and in microbiological analysis. Since 2018, she has worked as a researcher at the University of Milan in the Foodtech Project (POR FESR 2014-2020). In collaboration with Prof. Luciana Rossi, she developed edible vaccines (plants and probiotics) against PWD (Post Weaning Diarrhea) in piglets under patent protection.
Publications: Orcid ; IRIS-AIR
Supervisor Prof. Luciana Rossi
