OnFoods Foundation

👩🔬 Join us for an upcoming #Spoke6 seminar featuring Angela Di Somma from the University of Naples. We'll delve into mass spectrometry techniques used to identify therapeutic targets in malnutrition. ⏰ February 26, 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM 🔗 Here’s the link to connect online: https://lnkd.in/dbtgHMEa

🔬 Folic acid and neural tube defect prevention: a public health issue still underestimated? Folic acid supplementation in women of childbearing age is a key strategy for preventing neural tube defects, severe congenital malformations affecting the fetal central nervous system. However, a recent systematic review conducted by the Laboratory of Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition at the Università degli Studi di Pavia, as part of the OnFoods project, highlights a critical issue: overweight women do not take adequate amounts of folic acid. 📌 What does the study reveal? Find out by reading the full article: https://lnkd.in/d2BpWKjK

💻 The OnFoods Research Community Blog has been enriched with a new article by Federico Brigante from the Fondazione Edmund Mach, focusing on food safety. In an era where food fraud is increasingly common, one resource available to researchers is nuclear magnetic resonance, which can be applied to verify the authenticity of food products. This technique, widely used in the medical field, is also useful for identifying specific molecules in analysed foods, providing insights into their origin, production methods, and even plant species. To learn more, read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dQhqGJ2c 👨🔬 Dr. Brigante obtained a PhD in Chemistry from the National University of Córdoba in Argentina in 2022. His thesis focused on the discovery and validation of markers in seeds and baked goods using Metabolomics through HPLC-MS, GC-MS, and NMR. He is currently working as a Research Technician (RTDa) at the Edmund Mach Foundation (TN) in the NMR research area, applying Metabolomics workflows to various food matrices for food quality, nutritional aspects, and the proposal and validation of markers.

🌍 How do emotions shape our approach to climate change? 🌱 Join us for the Climate Emotions Workshop on February 21st, 16:00 - 17:00 (CET), an online session dedicated to understanding the psychological impact of climate change and the role of emotions in fostering pro-environmental behaviors. What to expect? 🔹 Insights into eco-emotions and their impact on mental health 🔹 Strategies to navigate climate anxiety and emotional burden 🔹 A collaborative space for researchers and individuals facing climate-related emotional challenges 🎙 Speaker: Dr. Lucia Tecuta, PhD, RTDa, University of Bologna – Department of Psychology How to: Link Zoom: https://lnkd.in/dfMh68FG   ID: 932 5638 1903 CODE: 544460 This workshop is part of OnFoods – Spoke 7 Mentorship Program

🔬 Gender Balance in Academia: Challenges & Perspectives 👩🔬📚 From the early stages of research, women face gender disparities that impact their careers and recognition. Between stereotypes, funding struggles, and limited representation in leadership, the road to academia remains uneven. Yet, new role models and shifting perspectives are shaping a more inclusive future. Why does gender still matter in research? How do academic networks disadvantage women? And what can be done to bridge the gap? We asked young OnFoods researchers to share their insights. Read the full article to explore their perspectives! ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/dfyN3jeM #WomenInScience #GenderEquality #AcademicResearch

Today is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science! 🔬👩🔬 Proclaimed by UNESCO, this day highlights the importance of breaking down barriers and ensuring equal opportunities for women in science, starting with STEM disciplines. 🔍 This year’s theme, "Unpacking STEM Careers: Her Voice in Science", emphasizes the need to amplify the voices of women shaping the future of research and innovation. 💡 But it’s not just about numbers—it’s about opportunities, recognition, and real change. More role models, more visibility, and more action are needed to inspire the next generation of scientists. OnFoods draws inspiration from this UNESCO initiative, not just to celebrate it but to spark a deeper reflection—one that starts today and will continue in our magazine through in-depth analyses and interviews. 📖 Let’s begin with this article: https://lnkd.in/dqUBnK-Q Hellas Cena Annamaria Colao Daniele Del Rio Silvia Lazzaris

🌱 Design, Food, Agriculture: More Connected Than We Imagine? 🌍 Today marks the beginning of a two-day event at the University of Pisa, where experts from agriculture, food policy, design, and entrepreneurship come together to explore the intersection of these fields. How can collaborative, transdisciplinary approaches lead to more sustainable and resilient food systems? How can design thinking contribute to shaping the future of agriculture and food policies? The full programme here https://lnkd.in/du72Y2ZS

📅 Sustainable and Quality Food: What Challenges for the Future? – February 14-15 📍 Department of Law - Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca. An international conference to discuss safe, healthy, and sustainable food, organized as part of the PNRR 10 ONFOODS project, in collaboration with the Best4Food Research Center. 🌍 Climate change, pollution, and food security: our food production system must evolve to ensure both quality and sustainability. 🔎 What can institutions do to protect the right to healthy nutrition? 🔎 How do environmental and economic transformations impact our food systems? 🔗 More info: https://lnkd.in/d-PayPvj

When we think about food packaging, we often overlook its critical role in ensuring food safety—or, conversely, its potential risks. With CP-MIMS technology, real-time monitoring of contaminants such as BPA and PFAS is now possible, marking a breakthrough in food safety research. The European Commission has recently taken a firm stance, banning bisphenol A (BPA) in food contact materials starting January 20, 2025. This decision aligns with growing concerns over the harmful effects of BPA and other persistent pollutants like PFAS, which have been linked to serious health risks. At the 11th International Symposium on Recent Advances in Food Analysis (RAFA), researchers from OnFoods, including Maurizio Piergiovanni and Nicolò Riboni, presented groundbreaking findings on CP-MIMS—a cutting-edge Condensed Phase Membrane Introduction Mass Spectrometry technique. 🔬 Why is CP-MIMS a game-changer? ✅ Real-time monitoring of contaminant migration ✅ High sensitivity to detect BPA, PFAS, and phthalates ✅ Minimal sample preparation, reducing solvents and waste ✅ Aligned with green analytical chemistry principles Read the full article by Gabriele Scrofani https://lnkd.in/dBW3jd2X

🌍 Diet, Longevity, and Technology: The LAFA Project for Sustainable Health What connects diet, fertility, and longevity? The LAFA – Longevity and Fertility Algorithm project, developed by the Future Food Institute in collaboration with the University of Salerno and other scientific and technological partners, aims to answer this question using data-driven insights and a sustainability-focused approach. 💡 The Goal: To create a predictive algorithm that analyzes the interactions between diet, environment, and human health, providing actionable tools for strategic decision-making in health and environmental policies. 📍 A Tale of Two Regions: 🔹 Land of Fires – An industrialized area with high levels of pollution. 🔹 Cilento – A UNESCO Geopark and a global symbol of the Mediterranean Diet. The LAFA team brings together expertise from: ✅ Università degli Studi di Salerno – Scientific coordination ✅ EcoFood Fertility – Research on environmental and lifestyle impacts on reproductive health ✅ Farzati S.p.A. – AI and IoT-based environmental monitoring ✅ Future Food Institute – Driving ecological transition through food innovation 👉 Learn more about the LAFA Project : https://lnkd.in/dFTD5fzY