Presentation

The Institute of Food Production Sciences (CNR-ISPA) is an international center of excellence of the National Research Council. We are active at the forefront of research, innovation, and technology transfer for the entire agri-food supply chain.

OUR MISSION

ISPA’s fundamental mission is the improvement of the quality and safety of agri-food products through a constant synergy between advanced scientific research and the production world. By transferring knowledge and technological solutions, ISPA concretely supports the innovation pathways of small, medium, and large enterprises, both nationally and internationally.

THEMATIC AREAS

Food Safety: The Institute is at the forefront of food safety, committed to developing innovative methodologies and rapid systems for the detection and control of biological and chemical contaminants: mycotoxins, toxigenic fungi, pathogenic microorganisms, and allergens in a wide range of foods (e.g., cereals, wine, pasta, milk, infant food, dried fruit).

Innovation and Sustainability for the Production Sector. We are actively engaged in developing high-tech research activities, with a particular focus on efficiency, quality, and sustainability.

• Sustainable Agriculture: Eco-sustainable practices for horticultural crops in greenhouses and open fields, and the use of beneficial microorganisms and natural substances for low-impact plant protection.
• Biotechnologies for the characterization of starters, probiotics, and biocontrol agents, for the production of functional molecules (antioxidants, proteins, enzymes), and the development of new fresh-cut (IV and V range) fruit and vegetable products.
• Circular Economy: Recovery and agricultural valorization of organic wastes
• Preservation and Logistics: Innovative production, conditioning, packaging techniques (innovative packaging), and logistics optimization to improve product quality and shelf life. Development of biopreservatives to extend food shelf-life.

Biodiversity

• Internationally Certified Microbial Collection for agri-industrial applications: ITEM Agri-Food Microbial Collection (https://item.bio-aware.com/) with more than 14,000 strains of fungi, 400 of bacteria, and 400 of yeasts.
• Study of microbial biodiversity through integrated omics approaches.

Main Results with Impact on the Production System

Our results translate into concrete applications that generate a direct impact on the agri-food industry. Key successes include:

• Innovative rapid detection methods for chemical and biological contaminants;
• Collection of microorganisms of agri-food interest for agri-industrial applications;
• New Functional Product Lines (e.g., probiotic olives and artichokes, fermented beverages);
• New fresh-cut (IV and V range) fruit and vegetable products.;
• Use of Autochthonous Yeasts in local wine production;
• Probiotics for human and animal nutrition and natural substances for low-impact plant protection; 
• Quality Markers for the traceability of typical products;
• Optimized Biological Diets for aquaculture;
• Valorization of waste and by-products from agri-food supply chains, optimization of stabilization processes, extraction of bioactive molecules, and bioconversion processes.

Collaborations and International Network

Thanks to a vision oriented towards innovation and territorial development, ISPA is a key partner at national and international levels. The Institute boasts a vast network of active collaborations spanning the academic world (national and international Universities and Research Centers) and inter- and intradepartmental synergies within the CNR. We also work alongside leading companies in the sector (e.g., IBM Italia, Barilla, Syngenta) and operate alongside global reference organizations in the agri-food landscape, including FAO, EFSA, FSA, and USDA. These partnerships complement our participation in major research and funding programs (e.g., PRIN, PNRR, Horizon).

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