On February 23rd, Universidade de Aveiro (UAveiro) was visited by two members of the Executive Committee (EC) of the InsectERA Agenda for a meeting to monitor the project and visit the laboratories where the research work is taking place.
This action is part of the strategy established by the European Commission to visit all the partners in order to promote an effective rapprochement and connection within the Agenda.
Remember that the InsectERA Mobilizing Agenda is one of the 22 Mobilizing/Green Agendas for Business Innovation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) in which the UAveiro participates. Specifically, this Agenda aims to explore the potential of insects as a bioindustrial tool and has an eligible investment of 1.7 million euros at UAveiro.
At the university’s facilities, the group visited the Applied Ecology and Ecotoxicology laboratory – CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), where the In Frass and OneHealth Work Package (WP) experiments are taking place. These are experiences of using organic fertilizers generated from the bioconversion of insects and assessing the challenges, benefits and solutions for human, animal and environmental health along the value chain and the impact of each product and service generated. This visit was accompanied by teacher Susana Loureiro, who showed the work that has been carried out.
A visit was also made to the Technology Laboratory Complex where work is being carried out under the WP In4.0 in a visit led by researcher Mara Freire. This WP aims to increase insect production capacity with the application of automated systems and new insect processing and production optimization techniques, giving rise to new production management and traceability software, increasing productivity and efficiency for insect producers.
As part of this action, the members of the Executive Committee also met with the researchers responsible for the three Agenda projects at UAveiro: Susana Loureiro, Paula Quinteiro, Mara Freire and their teams. The status of each project and the results obtained, as well as the obstacles faced, were presented, sharing information and promoting an exchange of ideas.
More information and updates on the Agenda’s developments can be found at https://www.insectera.pt/.
Text by: Notícias UA.