Environmental factors such as temperature, light intensity, and water and nutrient availability can induce abiotic stresses in fruity trees and horticultural plants that can limit the overall productivity and profits obtained from their cultivation. Biofertilizers and biostimulants, which are based on natural compounds and microorganisms with beneficial properties for crop plants, have become essential in overcoming these new challenges. Our work involves not only the development of new biostimulants and biofertilizers but also the evaluation of their mechanisms of action through plant response analysis. Our ultimate goal is to contribute to the creation of innovative products that are both effective and efficient for widespread use in agriculture.
Flowers are highly appreciated worldwide because of their beauty, aroma and bright colours, which make them the focus of multiple social events. However, their shelf-life is usually short, both in cut and uncut flowers and, although their market generates great profits, flower lifespan determines their final value. For this reason, we investigate mechanisms related to flower longevity and senescence, and help develop new products to enhance flower lifespan, so that consumers can enjoy flower beauty for longer periods.
Fruit development and ripening are complex processes that directly affect their final quality. In this sense, it is essential to guarantee a correct fruit development so that it can acquire organoleptic properties to meet consumers’ demands, along with all nutritional and bioactive components that make fruit consumption beneficial for human health. We focus our research to better understand the physiology behind fruit development and ripening on tree and during the postharvest period, so that we can enhance fruit quality in terms of their organoleptic properties and nutritional value.
More than 25% of the fruit produced and harvested is not consumed by people due to a loss of quality in the distribution chain that contributes to consumer rejection of this type of product. Hence, the development of new postharvest technologies to prevent the rapid deterioration of fruits is essential for reducing food waste. We focus on the design of novel and sustainable solutions through the evaluation of bioactive molecules and their potential benefits on fruit quality and shelf-life extension. Furthermore, we aim to transfer the acquired know-hows through collaborations with the agrifood sector.
Over the past decades, the shift to more sustainable sociotechnical systems has become essential. This transition led to the appearance of the concept of Circular Economy, which seeks to create a closed-loop material flow within the whole economic system. The revalorization of by-products from the industry is of great importance to provide them with a second life and avoiding the exponential increase of industrial residue. We focus our research on evaluating the predominant industrial waste in our environment and exploring their potential for designing applications in the agrifood sector with the ultimate goal of reducing their environmental impact.
Environmental factors such as temperature, light intensity, and water and nutrient availability can induce abiotic stresses in fruity trees and horticultural plants that can limit the overall productivity and profits obtained from their cultivation. Biofertilizers and biostimulants, which are based on natural compounds and microorganisms with beneficial properties for crop plants, have become essential in overcoming these new challenges. Our work involves not only the development of new biostimulants and biofertilizers but also the evaluation of their mechanisms of action through plant response analysis. Our ultimate goal is to contribute to the creation of innovative products that are both effective and efficient for widespread use in agriculture.
Flowers are highly appreciated worldwide because of their beauty, aroma and bright colours, which make them the focus of multiple social events. However, their shelf-life is usually short, both in cut and uncut flowers and, although their market generates great profits, flower lifespan determines their final value. For this reason, we investigate mechanisms related to flower longevity and senescence, and help develop new products to enhance flower lifespan, so that consumers can enjoy flower beauty for longer periods.
Fruit development and ripening are complex processes that directly affect their final quality. In this sense, it is essential to guarantee a correct fruit development so that it can acquire organoleptic properties to meet consumers’ demands, along with all nutritional and bioactive components that make fruit consumption beneficial for human health. We focus our research to better understand the physiology behind fruit development and ripening on tree and during the postharvest period, so that we can enhance fruit quality in terms of their organoleptic properties and nutritional value.
More than 25% of the fruit produced and harvested is not consumed by people due to a loss of quality in the distribution chain that contributes to consumer rejection of this type of product. Hence, the development of new postharvest technologies to prevent the rapid deterioration of fruits is essential for reducing food waste. We focus on the design of novel and sustainable solutions through the evaluation of bioactive molecules and their potential benefits on fruit quality and shelf-life extension. Furthermore, we aim to transfer the acquired know-hows through collaborations with the agrifood sector.
Over the past decades, the shift to more sustainable sociotechnical systems has become essential. This transition led to the appearance of the concept of Circular Economy, which seeks to create a closed-loop material flow within the whole economic system. The revalorization of by-products from the industry is of great importance to provide them with a second life and avoiding the exponential increase of industrial residue. We focus our research on evaluating the predominant industrial waste in our environment and exploring their potential for designing applications in the agrifood sector with the ultimate goal of reducing their environmental impact.
