SPECTRA ESRs Complete a Week-Long Mobility at ENEA
Two Early-Stage Researchers from the SPECTRA project spent five inspiring days at ENEA – the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development – diving deep into cutting-edge infrastructures, experimental facilities, and new approaches that are shaping the future of sustainable agri-food systems. Their mobility experience showcased true cross-disciplinary collaboration: from soil microbiomes and circular bioeconomy to metabolomics and spectroscopic diagnostics for food authenticity.
“This mobility gave us hands-on insights that cannot be learned from papers alone. The expertise we gained at ENEA will strengthen our research and our contribution to SPECTRA’s objectives.”
— SPECTRA ESR participant
Day-by-Day Highlights
Day 1 — Exploring Green Biotechnologies & Precision Agriculture
The mobility began at ENEA’s Casaccia Research Center, where the researchers were welcomed by Dr Gianfranco Diretto, Head of the Laboratory of GREEN Biotechnologies SPECTRA ENEA MOBILITY NEWS.
They toured advanced metabolomics and molecular biology labs and gained insight into:
• Omics-based diagnostics for agri-food systems
• Plant improvement and biopharmaceutical production
• Plant growth chambers and analytical infrastructures
The day concluded at the Agriculture 4.0 Laboratory, where precision farming, smart sensing and digital automation are being developed to support cleaner, more efficient production.
Day 2 — Circular Bioeconomy & Hands-On Metabolomics
The second day focused on the AGROS Division and its role in developing resilient food systems.
Highlights included:
• Visit to the Microbiology & Microbial Resources Facility led by Dr Annamaria Bevivino
• A tour of the Technological Hall of the Regenerative Circular Bioeconomy Laboratory with Dr Daniele Pizzichini and Gian Paolo Leone SPECTRA ENEA MOBILITY NEWS
In the afternoon, the ESRs received training on sample pretreatment for peach and olive oil test-cases, using ENEA’s cutting-edge analytical platforms.
“It was our first opportunity to prepare SPECTRA samples alongside world-class experts — a major milestone in our research journey.”
— SPECTRA ESR participant
Day 3 — Advanced Spectroscopy for Food Safety & Authenticity
The mobility continued at ENEA’s Frascati Research Center, with demonstrations of optical and laser-based diagnostics used to safeguard food authenticity and traceability SPECTRA ENEA MOBILITY NEWS:
• Laser Photo-Acoustic Spectroscopy (LPAS)
• Micro-Raman spectroscopy
• Hyperspectral imaging
• Laser-induced fluorescence systems
Researchers also discussed opportunities to integrate these tools into SPECTRA’s olive oil and peach use cases.
Day 4 — Soil Microbiomes & High-Resolution Chemical Profiling
Back in Casaccia, the ESRs joined a session with Dr Manuela Costanzo on the fundamental role of soil microbiomes in crop resilience, sustainability, and food system health.
Later, work continued in the Metabolomics Facility with high-resolution mass spectrometry applied to peach test-case profiling SPECTRA ENEA MOBILITY NEWS — reinforcing the multi-layered scientific approach at the heart of SPECTRA.
Day 5 — Agri-Food Chain Innovation & Technology Transfer
The final day centered on the Laboratory of Innovation in Agri-food Chains, where Maurizio Notarfonso and Chiara Nobili shared ENEA’s work on:
✓ Soil health and circular production systems
✓ Biostimulants and by-product valorisation
✓ Traceability and authenticity diagnostics
All core topics that align strongly with SPECTRA’s goals for safer and more sustainable food value chains.
A Week of Learning, Inspiration & Lasting Collaboration
Throughout the mobility, the ESRs worked directly with advanced instrumentation — including LC-IM-HRMS and ICP-AES — gaining technical skills essential for achieving SPECTRA’s scientific aims SPECTRA ENEA MOBILITY NEWS.
They also strengthened collaborations with ENEA scientists — ensuring that shared methodologies, test-case insights, and analytical datasets continue to support the project’s integrated approach.
“The people at ENEA made us feel at home and were eager to share their knowledge. We return more skilled, more inspired and more connected.”
— SPECTRA ESR participant
The SPECTRA consortium extends its sincere thanks to Dr Gianfranco Diretto, Dr Claudia Zoani, and all ENEA colleagues for their warm hospitality and invaluable expertise.
✅ Benefits for SPECTRA
| Added Value | Impact for the Project |
|---|---|
| Increased ESR research skills | Better experimental design and stronger test-case outputs |
| Improved interoperability of methods | Coherence and standardisation across partners |
| New analytical data generated | Supports authenticity and safety assessment |
| Stronger research network | Future co-development, mobility, and training actions |
Continuing the Journey
This successful mobility week marks an important step in SPECTRA’s vision to deliver safe and sustainable agri-food and chemical innovations, supported by robust science and strong European collaboration.
The network looks forward to the next exchange — and the continued development of tools and knowledge that will help shape a healthier future for consumers and the environment.
