Founded in 1404, the University of Turin (UNITO) is one of Italy's largest and most prestigious public universities, hosting over 80,000 students and a strong multidisciplinary research environment. UNITO is internationally recognized for its excellence in life sciences, agriculture, environmental sciences, biotechnology, and sustainability research, actively participating in numerous European and international research initiatives.

The UNITO research team involved in this project combines complementary expertise in Plant Physiology and Plant Pathology, with extensive experience in studying plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, plant–microorganism interactions, and the development of sustainable solutions for agriculture. The team conducts research on the formulation, optimization, and validation of innovative biostimulants, biopesticides, and bio-based agricultural products, assessing their efficacy through physiological, biochemical, molecular, and agronomic approaches.

In addition, the group has consolidated expertise in the isolation, characterization, and selection of beneficial microorganisms, including fungi and bacteria with plant growth-promoting traits or biological control activity against plant pathogens. Their research integrates microbiology, plant physiology, metabolomics, and biotechnology to develop environmentally friendly strategies that enhance crop productivity, resilience, and sustainability while reducing dependence on synthetic agrochemicals.