The University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest (USAMVB) brings expertise in biotechnology, bioactive compounds, food quality and bio-based materials. Within CERSUS, it leads biorefinery research to transform winemaking and food-processing residues into valuable extracts, products and sustainable packaging. Its activities connect circular resource use with aquaculture, environmental applications, sustainability assessment and researcher training.
CERSUS Project Contribution
The University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest (USAMVB) contributes to CERSUS through its expertise in agricultural and food sciences, biotechnology, bioactive compounds and bio-based materials. Its research team combines extraction, purification and advanced analytical methods to transform agricultural and food-processing residues into valuable products.
Within CERSUS, USAMVB leads research on biorefinery processes for recovering and reusing by-products and wastes from the winemaking and food industries. Its activities connect resource valorisation with applications in food products, aquaculture, environmental technologies and sustainable packaging.
Reseach profile and expertise
The USAMVB team contributes expertise in:
- Bioactive compound recovery, using sustainable extraction and purification methods to obtain valuable compounds from plants, agricultural residues and food-processing by-products.
- Biotechnology and applied microbiology, investigating antioxidant, antimicrobial and probiotic properties for functional product development.
- Bio-based materials and nanotechnology, developing materials for environmental and other practical applications.
- Food quality and product characterisation, combining chemical, biochemical and microbiological analysis to assess composition, performance and safety.
- Circular resource use, converting agricultural and winemaking residues into extracts, oils, powders, feed supplements and packaging materials.
- Environmental remediation, investigating sustainable approaches based on biological resources and advanced functional materials.
USAMBVs role in the consortium
Role in CERSUS
WP1 — Project management and coordination
USAMVB participates in consortium governance, scientific coordination, progress monitoring and reporting. It works with the coordinator and the other partners to support project implementation, research planning and interdisciplinary collaboration.
WP2 — Innovative materials for environmental applications
USAMVB leads the task on developing carbon-based nanomaterials and porous organic–inorganic hybrid platforms, prioritising bio-based resources and industrial and agricultural wastes as precursors.
The university also contributes to organic and macromolecular composites, materials with catalytic and photocatalytic properties, and natural polymer-based materials with controlled features for environmental and aquaculture applications.
WP3 — Advanced wastewater treatment and resource recovery
USAMVB contributes to integrated processes for recovering nutrients from wastewater for agricultural use. These activities investigate treatment and recovery approaches that connect water management with the reuse of nutrients.
The university also participates in the consortium’s research on metal recovery and sustainable industrial water management.
WP4 — Water resources management for recirculating aquaculture
USAMVB contributes to monitoring priority and emerging micropollutants and to testing innovative materials and plant-based supplements under real aquaculture conditions.
Its Moara Domnească research facilities support the evaluation of materials as water filters and supplementary feed resources. The university also participates in developing improved recirculating aquaculture technologies to support fish health, growth and production quality.
WP5 — By-product and waste valorisation
USAMVB leads the work package on biorefinery processes for recovering and reusing by-products and wastes from the winemaking and food industries.
It leads the recovery and characterisation of polyphenol-rich extracts from plant residues and the separation and purification of valuable compounds such as resveratrol, lycopene and pectin. The team also contributes to grape seed oil extraction, nutrient-rich grape seed powders and plant-based supplements for fish feed.
USAMVB leads the development and demonstration of alternative wine corks made from grapevine and tomato stem wastes, using its Pietroasa–Istrița production facilities to support scale-up and validation. It also contributes to biodegradable wine seal capsules incorporating natural compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
WP6 — Sustainability and risk assessment
USAMVB leads the task on sustainability performance assessment of the by-products and wastes valorised in WP5. Working with the consortium, it contributes experimental data for life cycle inventories and the evaluation of environmental impacts, economic performance and potential benefits of resource recovery.
The university also participates in prospective eco-design assessments, sustainability evaluation of innovative materials and advanced processes, and risk assessment and life cycle impact assessment methodology development.
WP7 — Technology transfer, dissemination and training
USAMVB contributes to scientific dissemination, technology transfer, mentorship and researcher exchanges. Its activities include specialised training in the characterisation of materials, by-products and wastes for circular bioeconomy applications.
Scientific visits, applied research exchanges and industrial placements support knowledge sharing and help connect laboratory findings with practical applications in agriculture and the food industry.
USAMVB Team
The USAMVB team is led by Associate Professor Alina Ortan, whose expertise includes the valorisation of plants, by-products and plant wastes within the circular bioeconomy, alongside nanotechnology and sustainable materials development.
The team brings together complementary expertise in biotechnology, applied microbiology, food quality, bioactive compounds, materials science and environmental remediation. This multidisciplinary approach supports the development and evaluation of products that combine resource efficiency with functional performance.
Through its leadership in biorefinery research, USAMVB helps CERSUS transform agricultural and food-processing residues into valuable resources and advance practical solutions for the circular bioeconomy.
Prof.dr. Alina Ortan
Partner Coordinator
Prof.dr. Carmen Cimpeanu
Key person
Prof.dr. Emanuel Vamanu
Key person
CS III dr. Carmen Steluta Ciobanu
Key member
more about this partner’s research team
USAMVB Infrastructure
USAMVB’s activities are supported by the Research Centre for Studies of Food Quality and Agricultural Products, which provides more than 200 pieces of equipment and a research greenhouse.
Sample preparation facilities include digital homogenisation, centrifugation and freeze-drying equipment. Extraction capabilities include ultrasound-assisted, accelerated solvent, microwave-assisted and supercritical fluid extraction systems.
Advanced analytical facilities include FTIR spectroscopy, HPLC with photodiode array, fluorescence and refractive index detection, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
Complementary facilities at Moara Domnească and Pietroasa–Istrița support aquaculture testing and the demonstration of innovative products for the wine industry, connecting laboratory research with practical validation.