Full Professor at the University of Bologna since September 2021, specializing in aquaculture research. His work focuses on the feeding and nutrition of aquatic animals, with an emphasis on Mediterranean marine species. His research includes developing sustainable and circular aquafeed formulations, particularly for European seabass and gilthead seabream. Recently, he has expanded his efforts to projects promoting sustainable shellfish farming practices.
Education
Graduated cum laude in Veterinary Medicine in 1998 at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Bologna
He obtained his PhD in "Improvement of food quality of animal products" in 2004.
Academic career
From 2005, Researcher in the disciplinary sector AGR/18 at the Faculty of Veterinary Medical Sciences of the University of Bologna
From 2014 Associate Professor in the disciplinary sector AGR/20 at the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences of the University of Bologna.
From 2021, Full Professor in the same University.
Scientific activity
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Author or co-author of 78 scientific papers published in ISI/Scopus journals (citations: 1687; h index: 24) (as of March 2025).
- He is project coordinator, scientific responsable for the University of Bologna or involved in important European research projects:
EUAqua.Org, Integrative breeding strategies for the transition of EUropean AQUAculture towards sustainable ORGanic production, Horizon Europe, 48 months 2025-2029, member of the research group of the University of Bologna. Project budget: 3.5 million €.
FishEutrust, European integration of new technologies and socio-economic solutions for increasing consumer trust and engagement in seafood productsor increasing consumer trust and engagement in seafood products, Horizon Europe, 48 months 2022-2026, member of the research group of the University of Bologna. Project budget: 5 million €.
NewTechAqua, New Technologies, Tools and Strategies for a Sustainable, Resilient and Innovative European Aquaculture, H2020-BG04-2019, 48 months, 2020-2023, Project Coordinator. Project budget: €6 million. https://www.newtechaqua.eu
NextGenProteins, Bioconversion of Underutilized Resources into Next Generation Proteins for Food and Feed, H2020-LC-SFS17-2019, 48 months, 2019-2023, Principal Investigator of the University of Bologna and leader of the Workpackage "Feed". Project budget: €7 million.
Sustainfeed, Development of highly sustainable less/zero competing-food aquafeeds for European aquaculture using low carbon and zero waste ingredients, EIT Food, 24 months, 2021-2022, Principal Investigator of the University of Bologna adn WP leader. Project budget 709.053 €. https://sustainfeed.csic.es/
Novofeed, Novel feed ingredients from sustainable sources, Eranet – Marine Biotech, 48 months, 2017-2020, Principal Investigator of the University of Bologna and WP leader. Project budget: €1.28 million.
EU Projects on sustainable shellfish farming systems
Lifemuscles, Life MUssel Sustainable production (re) cyCLES, Project aimed at reducing the environmental impact of polypropylene socks and promoting the use of biodegradable socks in mussel farming, Life, 36 months, 2021-2023, Principal Investigator of the University of Bologna. https://lifemuscles.eu/
Bivalvi, Advancing European bivalve production systems, Eranet Bioblue, 36 months, 2022-2025, Principal Investigator of the University of Bologna and WP leader. Project budget: € 1.2 million.
Projects on Training
AQUATechInn 4.0, Erasmus+, the projects aims to develop advanced training tools based on digital blended learning, with the use of simulators, gamification and open educational resources for the aquaculture sector. 36 months, 2023-2026. Principal Investigator of the University of Bologna and WP leader. Project budget: 1,2 Mio €
BoutCar EMFAF Project Grants, the project aims to develop a training pathway for young people and adults who want to engage in blue economy by providing them with contents, skills and competences necessary to get attractive and sustainable jobs and develop competences and skills needed to support EU Green Deal initiatives promoting sustainable blue economy. Principal Investigator of the University of Bologna and WP leader. Project budget: 970,000 €
Principal Investigator for the University of Bologna in the “Astro Trout Supply Chain” project, funded by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Policies (MIPAAF), duration 36 months (2024–2026). The activites focus on the development and validation of innovative aquafeeds with high environmental value for rainbow trout, with particular attention to ingredient sustainability, reduction of carbon footprint, and the optimization of growth performance and animal welfare.
He is also coordinator of Action 3, “Sustainable valorization of marine resources,” within Spoke 2 of the National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), which develops innovations for biodiversity-friendly aquaculture.
He has participated in numerous research projects funded by public institutions such as the Ministry of Agriculture, the Emilia-Romagna Region, and the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna.
Between 2015 and 2025, he has been Principal Investigator in 30 research contracts commissioned by national and international aquafeed companies.
Teaching activities
Since 2004 he teaches in the field of veterinary medical sciences, with particular reference to aquaculture and fish nutrition and feeding.
Teacher at the Bachelor’s Degree Course in Aquaculture and Hygiene of Fish Productions of the University of Bologna in:
Feeding of Aquatic Animals and Feed Technologies (60 hours)
Mariculture (40 hours)
Innovative Systems in Aquaculture (20 hours)
Supervisor in 40 thesis in the Bachelor's Degree Courses in Aquaculture and Ichtiology and Aquaculture and Hygiene of Fish Products.
Supervisor in 6 thesis in the courses of Safety and Quality of Animal production and Health and Quality of Products of Animal Origin related to topics of feeding and nutrition of farmed fish.
Director of the Master in First Level in Aquaculture and Ichthiopathology for A.A. 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 and holder of the teaching module in Maricoltura (25 hours).
Member of the PhD board in Veterinary Medical Sciences of the University of Bologna, during the 35th and 34th cycle.
Lecturer of the Course "Sustainable Fishing and Aquaculture in the Mediterranean" in the three editions of 2006 (42 hours), 2008 (30 hours) and 2010 (28 hours) funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and organized by the University Residential Center of Bertinoro. The course was intended for people from ministerial offices, fisheries offices and research institutes in Mediterranean countries. In the 2008 edition he was also Deputy Scientific Director.
Scientific responsible, organizer and lecturer of the Course "Hatchery techniques and technology for production of Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)", 14-25 March 2016, commissioned by FAO for the training of Arab-Saudi technicians.
Leadership, Governance, and Advisory Roles in Academia and Aquaculture
Board member of the European Aquaculture Society for the 2024-2026 term.
From 2024, Member of the Scientific Committee of the Italian National Association of Animal Feed.
From 2024, Member of the Scientific International Committee of the International Symposium on Fish Nutrition and Feeding.
From 2023, Coordinator of the Technical Advisory Group on Innovation and Technology of the General Fishery Commission for Mediterranean and Black Sea - FAO.
From 2022, Program Committee Member of the Decade Collaborative Center for Coastal Resilience of the UN Ocean Decade, where he gives his contribution to activities and events related to aquaculture.
Responsible since 2018 for two consecutive terms for the Operational Unit of Fish Productions of the Animal Production Service of the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences of the University of Bologna.
From 2018 to 2020, Board Member of the Marine Research Center Foundation on the appointment of the Rector of the University of Bologna.
Since January 2015, for two consecutive terms, Head of the University Center for Blue Growth of the Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences of the University of Bologna.
Membership of scientific and editorial committees
Chair of the Organizing Committee of the International Symposium on Fish Nutrition and Feeding, 2022 (ISFNF2022), Sorrento. This conference represents the most important scientific event on fish nutrition and nutrition worldwide with more than 400 participants.
Member of the Organizing Committee of the XX Aspa Congress, 2013, Bologna.
Guest editor of Aquaculture (Elsevier), in 2022-2023.
Section Editor of the Italian Journal of Animal Science (Taylor & Francis) from 2018 to 2023.
Since 2015, member of the Editorial Board of Aquaculture (Elsevier).
Reviewer of the most important scientific journals related to the aquaculture sector and animal production such as Aquaculture, Aquaculture Nutrition, AquacultureQuacultur Research, Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, Italian Journal of Animal Science.
