🧪 PURPLEGAIN Training School (Antwerp, Belgium | 14–16 May 2025)

Attended the Third Training School of the COST Action CA21146 – PURPLEGAIN, held from 14th to 16th May 2025 in Antwerp, Belgium. The event focused on resource recovery from waste and wastewater using purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB) and brought together researchers and experts across Europe working on sustainable biotechnological solutions.Organized under Working Group 2: Resource Recovery and Downstream Procedures for PPB Biomass, the Training School provided hands-on insights into upstream/downstream processing, mechanistic modelling, and techno-economic aspects of PPB-based technologies. The sessions were led by a diverse group of experts and covered the production of high-value bioproducts such as PHAs, single-cell proteins, biohydrogen, organic acids, and carotenoids. The organizing team included Dr. Luis Diaz Allegue, Prof. Siegfried E. Vlaeminck, Joana Fradinho, Dr. Daniel Puyol, Dr. Gabriel Capson Tojo, Dr. Raul Muñoz Torre, and Dr. Ioanna Vasiliadou. The sessions took place at Klooster van de Grauwzusters (Stadscampus) and Campus Groenenborg, concluding with an industrial site visit focused on PPB-based waste valorization. Participating in this Training School allowed me to strengthen my understanding of PPB biotechnology and connect with leading researchers and innovators working on circular and climate-resilient solutions for organic waste management.