Escola Superior de Biotecnologia (ESB) of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, in Porto, has played a prominent role, nationally and internationally, in higher education and specialized training in the biotechnology field, with an emphasis on agro-industrial and environmental areas and their interface with nutrition and health. The Center for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF) has four lines of interdisciplinary research in the agri-food and environmental sectors and their interfaces with health and well-being, namely the lines of Food and Nutrition, Environment and Resources, Biological and Biomedical-based Products, and Fermentation Solutions. CBQF has different advanced thematic platforms that serve research activities and extension services: characterization of bioactives, molecular biology and cell culture, analytical chemistry, biophysics, material and packaging, and a KitchenLab, with the possibility to design and use prototypes at the pilot scale for food, environmental and health R&D+I activities. ESB’s participation in ALGAVALOR focuses on microbiological and biochemical characterization and evaluation of the shelf-life of microalgae extracts and the evaluation of microbial load and pesticide content of biofertilizers.
