Special Session 9

SPECIAL SESSION #9

Roberta Imperatore

Department of Sciences and Technologies - University of Sannio, Italy

• rimperatore@unisannio.it

Elena Coccia

Department of Sciences and Technologies - University of Sannio, Italy

• elecoccia@unisannio.it

This special session aims to explore cutting-edge research and innovative strategies that transform agri-food by-products and waste streams into valuable resources with direct benefits for human and animal health. Each year, the agri-food industry generates vast quantities of by-products, waste, and underutilized biomass, posing significant environmental and economic challenges. Moving beyond traditional disposal, this session will highlight circular economy approaches, focusing on the sustainable extraction, conversion, and application of bioactive compounds, functional ingredients, and novel bio-based materials from these resources.

Contributions will span the entire valorization chain, from advanced extraction and processing technologies to rigorous metrology and comprehensive sustainability assessments. Particular attention will also be given to in vitro and in vivo models and clinical evidence demonstrating the positive impact of these valorized products on gut health, metabolic disorders, inflammatory conditions, and overall well-being. This session will foster interdisciplinary dialogue, bringing together researchers from food science, nutrition, biotechnology, environmental science, and health, to collectively advance the vision of a more sustainable, resilient, and health-promoting agri-food system, underpinned by verifiable environmental and economic benefits.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Identification and quantification of underutilized agri-food by-products;
• Physicochemical and biological characterization of bio-waste streams;
• Sustainable and innovative technologies for preserving and enhancing bioactive potential;
• Advanced extraction, bioconversion and/or purification methods;
• Early-stage assessment of potential health-promoting effects;
• Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities;
• Animal and human Health and Welfare;
• Sustainability, Metrology, and Economic Feasibility of Valorization Pathways;
• Standardization and Quality Control of each step from Bio-Waste to Bio-Value.

Roberta Imperatore, is an Associate Professor of Comparative Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Developmental Biology (SSD BIOS 04/A) at the University of Sannio, with a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Verona. Her career has included post-doctoral work on the Development of Bioimaging techniques for the analysis of in vitro and in vivo cellular activity, followed by scientific research and updating in the field of Comparative Anatomy and Cytology at the University of Sannio, where in 2019 she became Associate Professor. Her research activity is focused on the study of the effect of synthetic and natural biomolecules extracted from sustainable and renewable sources on central and peripheral neuroendocrine regulation of feeding with particular interest on the role of gut-brain axis. She uses a comparative approach (teleosts vs. mammals) to study how these bioactive molecules can counteract or alleviate pathologies like obesity, inflammation, and degenerative diseases. Her research methodology spans morphological, functional, immunohistochemical, and biomolecular studies, identifying neuropeptides, cytokines, and oxidative stress enzymes. A significant application of her work involves using natural bioactive molecules to enhance nutrition, growth, and general health in animal models, contributing to both sustainable aquaculture and biomedicine (as food supplements). She also employs computational, bioinformatics, and statistical methods in her research and has authored over 50 peer-reviewed international papers, collaborating with numerous national and international research groups.

Elena Coccia, is an Associate Professor in Comparative Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Developmental Biology (SSD BIOS-04/A) at the University of Sannio, where she also earned her Ph.D. in Earth and Life Sciences. Her scientific activity focuses on the development and application of advanced biological models, including 2D and 3D cellular systems such as intestinal epithelial models, to study the effects of bioactive compounds on the neuroendocrine regulation of feeding behavior and gut-brain communication. She investigates the molecular mechanisms by which synthetic and natural biomolecules, extracted from sustainable and renewable sources, exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, with potential benefits for chronic inflammatory conditions such as metabolic syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. Her research also explores the application of bioactive compounds to enhance nutrition, growth, and overall health in aquatic and terrestrial animal models, contributing to both sustainable aquaculture and biomedical innovation. Additionally, she works on the development of functionalized nanoparticles and biopolymers for advanced biomedical devices (e.g., films and scaffolds), with a strong focus on biocompatibility and biological activity. Her expertise includes a broad range of molecular biology, histological, biochemical, and bioanalytical techniques, and she is actively engaged in national and international research collaborations.