The University of Bologna, Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences presented the ONE EARTH project during the international conference Microbial Diversity 2025 “Microbial Diversity for Empowering the Ecological Transition: Research, Innovation, and Technological Transfer”, held on 23–26 September 2025 in Rome, Italy.
The event brought together more than 300 participants, including researchers, PhD students, and representatives from industry, providing a dynamic platform for discussing how microbial biotechnology can contribute to sustainability and the ecological transition.
Within this framework, the Food Microbiology group of the University of Bologna hosted a research corner dedicated to explaining ONE EARTH’s activities and objectives. Researchers Francesca Patrignani, Rosalba Lanciotti, Lorenzo Siroli, Davide Gottardi, and Lucia Vannini presented their work and described the role of the group within the project.
Their contribution focused on the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) using the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, cultivated on cheese whey enriched with short-chain volatile fatty acids (SCVFA). This process illustrates how residues from the dairy industry can be transformed into high-value bio-based compounds, supporting the project’s overarching aim of valorising by-products and promoting circular resource use.
Participation in Microbial Diversity 2025 allowed the University of Bologna team to showcase ONE EARTH’s research to a multidisciplinary audience and exchange insights on microbial applications in sustainable production. The event also highlighted the importance of collaboration between academia and industry in driving innovation within the circular bioeconomy.