Kick-off
Meeting

On 17–18 June 2026, the partners of the SALSA (Sustainable Agrifood by-product valorisation through circular Solutions and biobased Applications) project gathered at the University of Turin (Italy) for the official Kick-off Meeting, marking the beginning of an ambitious European initiative dedicated to transforming agrifood by-products into high-value, sustainable bio-based solutions.

Hosted by the Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology of the University of Turin, the two-day meeting brought together representatives from the consortium's academic, research, industrial, and technological partners. The event provided an excellent opportunity for all participants to meet in person, strengthen collaborations, and align the scientific, technical, and managerial activities that will guide the project over the coming years.

The programme included detailed presentations of each Work Package, allowing partners to discuss objectives, responsibilities, expected outcomes, and interactions among the different project activities. Particular attention was dedicated to defining the operational workflow, ensuring efficient communication among partners, and establishing a common strategy for data sharing, project management, dissemination, and stakeholder engagement.

A central theme of the meeting was the project's commitment to the principles of the circular bioeconomy. SALSA aims to develop innovative and sustainable approaches for the valorisation of agricultural residues and processing by-products, converting materials that are currently underutilised into valuable products such as biostimulants, biopesticides, bioactive compounds, and other bio-based ingredients. Through an interdisciplinary approach integrating plant science, microbiology, chemistry, biotechnology, engineering, sustainability assessment, and socio-economic analysis, the project seeks to contribute to more resilient and environmentally sustainable agrifood systems.

During the meeting, partners also discussed the first technical milestones, the organisation of pilot activities, the collection and characterisation of feedstocks, and the establishment of common methodologies to ensure harmonised data generation across the consortium. The discussions highlighted the strong complementarity of the partners' expertise and reinforced the collaborative spirit that will underpin the project's success.

An important milestone achieved during the Kick-off Meeting was the formal establishment of the SALSA Advisory Panel, composed of internationally recognised experts representing academia, industry, innovation, and stakeholder organisations. The Advisory Panel will provide independent scientific and strategic guidance throughout the project, supporting the consortium in maximising the quality, relevance, and impact of its research activities.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment from all partners to work collaboratively towards the project's objectives and to foster innovation capable of supporting Europe's transition towards a more circular, sustainable, and resource-efficient bioeconomy.

The University of Turin would like to thank all consortium partners, invited experts, and members of the Advisory Panel for their active participation and valuable contributions. Their enthusiasm and collaborative approach laid a strong foundation for the successful implementation of the SALSA project.

The journey has officially begun, and we look forward to sharing the project's progress, achievements, and upcoming activities in the months ahead.