The Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Food Sciences, Toxicology and Legal Medicine of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences at the University of Valencia has been awarded funding for the implementation of the project “Development of a Green Biorefinery for the Valorization of Agri-Food By-products and Pruning Residues through Precision Fermentation (YEAST4VALUE)”, reference INNEST/2025/68.

The project has been granted under the Strategic Collaborative Projects Programme, funded by Ivace+i Innovation and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Valencian Community Programme 2021–2027.

The project will be led by Professor Francisco J. Barba, Full Professor and Coordinator of the ALISOST Research Group (Innovative Technologies for Sustainable Food – GIUV2021-494). The main objective of YEAST4VALUE is to establish a green biorefinery for the valorization of by-products generated by the rice, wine, olive oil, and horchata industries, as well as pruning residues of giant reed, associated with the damage caused by the DANA extreme weather event.

Through the application of sustainable extraction and biotransformation processes, the project aims to obtain high-added-value oils and carotenoids for the food, cosmetic, and health industries, as well as to develop an agricultural biostimulant in pellet form, intended to support the restoration of degraded soils.

The project involves the participation of Sociedad Anónima de Agricultores de la Vega de Valencia (SAV), Qomer Bioactive Ingredients, IATA-CSIC, and AINIA, jointly contributing to the valorization of the knowledge generated at the University of Valencia and its effective transfer to the Valencian productive sector.

The awarding of this grant highlights the commitment of the ALISOST research group, the Department, and the Faculty to research excellence, knowledge transfer, and innovation, strengthening collaboration between universities, companies, and other stakeholders within the Valencian Innovation System, and aligning with the strategic objectives of sustainability, competitiveness, and socio-economic development of the Valencian Community.

•