Bread enriched with broccoli stalk powder is proposed as a newly formulated product with potential health benefits. Wheat flour in the bread recipe was enriched with powder obtained from freeze-drying broccoli stalks, a valuable by-product of vegetable processing. The effects of broccoli stalk powder (BSP) supplementation on the physicochemical and sensory properties of bread, as well as its bioactive profile, were evaluated. The results showed an increase in moisture content and acidity with increasing substitution levels from 0% (control bread—BC) to 7%, while some important parameters in terms of consumers’ acceptability decreased (i.e., loaf volume and porosity). Elasticity exhibited moderate variations, with no major influence at lower substitution levels. A small-scale consumer test indicated good scores up to moderate substitution levels (3–5%). The antioxidant activity of broccoli stalk flour (62.13% ± 1.29%) positively influenced the antioxidant activity of bread with 3% BSP, which increased by approximately 4%. The total polyphenol content (TPC) of the bread with 5% BSP, together with its physicochemical and sensory characteristics, suggested that broccoli stalk powder is a promising functional ingredient for bakery applications.

The main objective of this research is to assess the antifungal activity of grape pomace extracts of four local varieties (i.e., two white, Fetească Albă and Tămâioasă Românească, and two red, Fetească Neagră and Negru de Drăgășani), knowing their valuable chemical profile. The antifungal activity of the extracts was evaluated using two fungi strains (Aspergillus niger and Alternaria alternata). Despite the classical extraction method, using absolute ethyl alcohol (99–100%): water=1:1 as a solvent, the obtained grape pomace extracts presented high antifungal effectiveness. Thus, Tămâioasă Românească (TR), Fetească Neagră (FN), Fetească Albă (FA), and Negru de Drăgășani (ND) pomace extracts were shown to have superior antimicrobial activity against Aspergillus niger due to their higher concentration of polyphenols. On the other hand, FN and ND extracts did not exhibit antifungal activity against Alternaria sp., although the growth inhibition efficiency was lower compared to the growth inhibition of Aspergillus sp. In conclusion, this study emphasized a strong correlation between the antifungal activity of analyzed grape pomace extracts and their excellent antioxidant potential.

The bioeconomy represents a new way of life for people, but also a responsibility towards the future of the planet. Generating a significant socio-economic impact, it could be viewed as a key element of sustainable development, as the current and future solution for economic processes, based on new development models compelled by climate changes and the economy’s resilience to potential crises. In this context, the paper presents in its first part the Circular Economy description and the Circular Bioeconomy discussion from an interdisciplinary perspective. The second part of the paper aims to explore education as a tool for facilitating systemic changes supporting a real transition to a sustainable bioeconomy. The key aspects discussed refer to the following: (1) European policies, strategies, and action plans for bioeconomy; (2) Circular Economy as a solution for sustainable food systems; (3) main requirements and challenges for developing a (Circular) Bioeconomy, including indicators of sustainability; (4) the links between Circular Bioeconomy and the Sustainable Development Goals; (5) possibilities for integrating the agri-food industry’s needs into bioeconomy education; and (6) pathways for teach bioeconomy concepts effectively.

Tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum) are important sources of vitamin A, C, folic acid, potassium, as well as fiber and healthy fats, constituents that can ensure a healthy diet. The rich nutritional composition of tomatoes includes phenolics and carotenoids that position them as a functional food. Drying is an essential method for avoiding microbial spoilage of food. Dehydration of tomatoes leads not only to biological stability but also to a large variety of food available all year round, without requiring particular storage conditions such as refrigeration. Dried tomatoes contain nutrients and antioxidants such as lycopene and beta-carotene, which give them their red color. The processing methods are critical for the quality of the dried tomatoes. This study investigated the influence of pretreatment (i.e., ultrasonication), hot air drying, and vacuum drying on the quality attributes of two cherry tomatoes, namely Aurora and Rutgers. Ultrasonic-hot air drying led to an increase of the dry matter (d.m.) content from 33.87 ± 0.08% to 79.37 ± 0.21% (Aurora variety), respectively from 34.32 ± 0.17% to 78.69 ± 0.24% (Rutgers variety). Comparing the drying methods, ultrasonic-vacuum air drying can be recommended to dehydrate tomato samples to avoid a high degradation of lycopene. Applying this method, the amount of lycopene ranged from 9.71 ± 0.16 mg/100g d.m. (Aurora variety) and 8.69 ± 0.12 mg/100g d.m. (Rutgers variety) in fresh tomatoes to 8.50 ± 0.20 mg/100g d.m. (Aurora variety) and 7.75 ± 0.10 mg/100g d.m. (Rutgers variety) In dehydrated products. Vacuum drying proved to be a suitable technique for obtaining dehydrated tomatoes with good quality, a further detailed assessment of other changes in sensorial and chemical terms being needed.

Lilium spp. bulbs are traditionally valued for their medicinal properties, yet their phytochemical profile and biomedical potential remain underexplored. This study aims to assess the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and dermatocosmetic potential of ethanolic extracts from five Lilium cultivars. Bulb macerates were obtained using 70% and 96% ethanol and evaluated for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), condensed tannins (CTC), mineral composition, and antioxidant activity (DPPH assay). Spectroscopic (FTIR) and antimicrobial analyses were also performed. Macerates from Lilium “Dark Secret” (LD-70) and Lilium asiaticum “White” (LA-70) exhibited the highest levels of TPC (225 and 162.5 mg GAE/100 g f.w.), TFC (26.12 and 21.75 mg QE/100 g f.w.), and antioxidant activity (81.5 and 58.75 mg GAE/100 g f.w.). FTIR confirmed the phenolic composition, while mineral analysis revealed a high potassium content and negligible toxic metals. Selective antimicrobial activity was observed against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans, particularly for LD-70 and LA-70 macerates. Based on these findings, stable hydrogel formulations incorporating LD-70 and LA-70 were developed, showing favorable pH, rheology, and sustained antioxidant activity over 60 days. These findings support the integration of Lilium-derived macerates into dermatocosmetic formulations targeting skin protection and microbial defense.

This study followed the antimicrobial activity of some citrus extracts obtained from the peel and whole fruit against Rhizopus sp. and Alternaria sp., two genra affecting the growth and the quality of fruits. Citrus originated from both EU and nonEU countries and were collected from different commercial sources. The Kirby and Bauer method was used to evaluate the antifungal activity of citrus extracts. If the antifungal activity against Rhizopus sp. is discussed, the diameter of the growth inhibition zone varied largely, between 7.50 + 1.9148 mm (peel and whole fruit of grapefruit from non-EU countries, respectively peel of mandarins from non-EU countries) and 0 mm (oranges coming from EU countries). Referring to the antifungal activity of extracts against Alternaria sp., only the peel exhibited it; the diameter of the growth inhibition zone ranged between 11.66 + 0.5773 mm (limes from non-EU countries) and 0 mm (oranges and mandarins coming from EU countries, and also lemons coming from non-EU countries). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the citrus extracts ranged in large limits, from 1.5 to 6.1 mg/mL, depending on the tested sample and filamentous fungi. Some extracts were inactive against Rhizopus sp. and Alternaria sp. respectively, within the tested concentration range. In-depth knowledge of the antifungal activity of citrus extracts is located at the confluence of many factors. Although it is a challenging area of study, this one is of huge interest due to the content of phenolics or essential oils in citrus, compounds with promising antifungal activity. The replacement of synthetic fungicides with biofungicides is a horizon of action for lawmakers and a desideratum for people.

Lilium spp. bulbs are traditionally valued for their medicinal properties, yet their phytochemical profile and biomedical potential remain underexplored. This study aims to assess the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and dermatocosmetic potential of ethanolic macerates from five Lilium spp. cultivars. Bulb macerates were obtained using 70% and 96% ethanol and evaluated for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), condensed tannins (CTC), mineral composition, and antioxidant activity (DPPH assay). Spectroscopic (FTIR) and antimicrobial analyses were also performed. Macerates from Lilium “Dark Secret” (LD-70) and Lilium asiaticum “White” (LA-70) exhibited the highest levels of TPC (225 and 162.5 mg GAE/100 g f.w.), TFC (26.12 and 21.75 mg QE/100 g f.w.), and antioxidant activity (81.5 and 58.75 mg GAE/100 g f.w.). FTIR confirmed the phenolic composition, while mineral analysis revealed a high potassium content and negligible toxic metals. Selective antimicrobial activity was observed against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans, particularly for LD-70 and LA-70 macerates. Based on these findings, stable hydrogel formulations incorporating LD-70 and LA-70 were developed, showing favorable pH, rheology, and sustained antioxidant activity over 60 days. These findings support the integration of Lilium-derived macerates into dermatocosmetic formulations targeting skin protection and microbial defense.

The use of antioxidants in the dermatocosmetic industry has become increasingly popular to help protect and stabilize other sensitive active ingredients, prolonging the effectiveness and durability of the cosmetic product. Grape pomace, as the main by-product generated through winemaking, and Polygonum cuspidatum, concentrate bioactive metabolites with high antioxidant activity. Hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from grape pomace (Merlot and Feteasca Neagra varieties) and the root and flower of Japanese knotweed, respectively, alone and in mixtures, were characterized, and preliminary assays were conducted for their incorporation in two gel-based cosmetic formulations. The characterization of the extracts revealed the presence of catechin, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, myricetin, resveratrol, and kaempferol. The hydroalcoholic extract of P. cuspidatum flower and root was found to have the highest content of total phenolic compounds (10.920 ± 0.268 mg GAE/mL, respectively, 4.751 ± 0.072 mg GAE/mL), and the highest antioxidant activity (expressed as DPPH Radical Scavenging Capacity, IC50) by 28.04 ± 1.12 µg GAE/mL and 83.91 ± 1.13 µg GAE/mL, respectively. Catechin was the most abundant polyphenol found in pomace extract (687.87 mg/kg). The type and the concentration of the plant extract used in dermatocosmetic gel formulations influenced their antioxidant activity. Encapsulation of P. cuspidatum flower extract in liposomes prior to their incorporation into the gel formulation demonstrated the role of liposomes in enhancing the stability and modulation of phenolic compound delivery. It is worth noting that this dermatocosmetic formulation, which contains the flower extract of P. cuspidatum, was the subject of a pending patent application.

Microplastic contamination in milk and dairy products is an emerging public health concern due to the potential transfer of polymer particles into the human diet. This study aims to assess the health risks associated with the presence of five major polymers, such as poly(methyl methacrylate), polyurethane, polyester, polyethylene, and polyamide, found in a variety of conventional, organic, and raw milk and dairy products. The risk assessment was performed by calculating several indices, including the polymer risk index, concentration factor, daily plastic intake, the chronic daily exposure dose by ingestion, and the plastic risk index. Statistical analyses, including t-test, Pearson correlations, Multilayer Perceptron Analysis, Principal Component Analysis, Scatterplot Matrix, pairwise comparisons, and Multidimensional Scaling, were performed to establish the emerging risks associated with the consumption of contaminated dairy products. The results indicated significant differences in risk parameters between certain product categories, with yogurts, both conventional and organic, showing consistently higher associations with poly(methyl methacrylate), polyurethane, polyester, and polyamide contamination. Strong positive correlations between microplastic concentration and intake-related parameters have confirmed a robust exposure-risk relationship. The exploratory and predictive analyses have revealed product-specific contamination patterns, but no significant association has been observed between product and polymer types. These findings validate the link between microplastic exposure and human health risk and suggest that targeted monitoring of dairy products with high sensitivity is needed to mitigate potential impacts.

This study assessed the phenolics and antioxidant activities of two local white grape pomace extracts (i.e., Feteasca alba and Tamaioasa Romaneasca). The influence of the extraction procedure (i.e., maceration and ultrasonication) on the total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity (AA) of extracts (pomace, stems, skin, and seeds) was investigated as well. The results revealed that grape pomaces from two white varieties showed high and various values for TPC and AA, depending on the extraction procedure i.e., maceration and ultrasonication. On the other hand, statistical analysis revealed that TPC and TFC were positively correlated with the grape variety (p < 0.01). The experimental values are consistent with the predicted values.

This work presents the mapping of the herbaceous canopy radiation profiles and forage quality in the mountain grasslands from the Fundata area, Romania. The dominant species is Agrostis capillaris and many other valuable grasses and legumes grow in the area. The measurements considered floristic composition, LAI, canopy height, and forage quality i.e., ash, protein, total fiber, nitrates, and phosphorus, respectively. The altitude influences the floristic composition and forage quality. The pastoral value was assessed as 67 which is considered as good value with a grazing capacity of 1-2 livestock units/ha. For sustainable grassland management in mountain areas, the role of perennial canopy amplifies, acquiring the valences of multifunctional utilization and requiring reliable methods for environmental protection and enhancing the natural specific landscape.

We conduct a review of the multifaceted rewilding concept and rewilding initiatives worldwide, focusing on specific features and outcomes of European rewilding issues and Romanian rewilding projects. In this review of the literature and case studies, we undertake the following: (a) identify the definitions and thorough meanings of the term rewilding worldwide, including its guiding principles aiming at rebuilding the natural ecosystems; (b) map the international and European treaties and policies referring to ecosystems’ restoration, biodiversity, environment, sustainability, and rewilding-related issues; (c) explore the benefits and criticisms associated with the rewilding activities, including from a social perspective; (d) structure an overview on the tools used for rewilding assessment; (e) identify the projects and initiatives developed and on-going in Romania on rewilding. Our findings reveal a great diversity of topics addressed within the rewilding umbrella and also a significant growth in this area, despite the numerous challenges faced by experts and locals (e.g., understanding the context of rewilding and identifying the most suitable modalities of operationalizing it) and questions (such as the following: is rewilding a real need? will it bring benefits to nature and people?) that remained to be answered. In Romania, a series of efforts are being undertaken both by the government and NGOs to restore self-sustaining ecosystems and to raise awareness of this topic among different stakeholders.

Grapes occupy an important position in the human diet, providing both macronutrients and micronutrients indispensable for growth and development. Grapes contain enzymatic and non-enzymatic (nutritional) antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid and bioflavones. High amounts of these valuable compounds are removed through processing, when the skin and the seeds are separated from the pulp. During the vinification process, a large amount of grape pomace is generated that constitutes an important source of value-added products such as phenolic compounds, mainly flavonoids, phenolic acids, and stilbenes. Valorization of wine industry by-products like grape pomace is a suitable strategy for recovering bioactive compounds (mainly polyphenols) and reducing the environmental impact of this industrial waste. The circular bioeconomy refers to maintaining the value of the biological resources in economy for as long as possible, minimizing the waste production. Recovery and utilization of pomace from grape process favors closing the loop to ensure the abovementioned circularity. The experimental screening performed was designed to assess several indices of the polyphenolic composition of several grape byproducts (pomace, steams, and skin and seed mixture), such as total polyphenolic content, total flavonoid content, and their antioxidant activity, for two white grape Romanian varieties (i.e., Fetească Albă and Tămâioasă Românească).

Due to its valuable organic compounds, grape pomace represents a valuable resource in the creation of value-added food products. In this study, we investigated grape pomace hydroalcoholic extracts obtained by ultrasonication from two white and two red Romanian grape varieties. The phytochemical parameters, i.e., polyphenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, condensed tannins content, and antioxidant activity, were determined by UV-Vis spectrometry. The statistical analysis revealed that Tămâioasă Românească and Negru de Drăgășani, respectively, and Fetească Albă and Fetească Neagră are similar to each other. Significant differences among the pomaces obtained from different grape varieties were noticed in terms of their phenolic contents. The red varieties (Fetească Neagră and Negru de Drăgășani) were richest in terms of total phenolics and total anthocyanins, respectively. The antioxidant activity of extracts obtained from grape pomace showed that Negru de Drăgășani had the higher value due to its high amounts of polyphenols, followed by Fetească Neagră, Fetească Albă, and Tămâioasă Românească. Higher levels of bioactive polyphenolic substances, i.e., catechin, myricetin, resveratrol, and vanillic acid, were found in the pomace of Negru de Drăgășani extracts using high-performance liquid chromatography. These results emphasize the potential of the Negru de Drăgășani variety to be further exploited for nutritional and functional applications.

Red grapes are rich in phytochemicals such as phenolics and flavonoids, which are strongly correlated with their antioxidant activity. Thus, grapes as-harvested and grape extracts, especially those obtained from their seeds and pulp, have been reported to have health benefits, and accordingly, grapes and their derivatives are considered potential functional food ingredients. The total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and the antioxidant activity of skin, pulp, and seeds of four grape varieties grown both in conventional and organic vineyards were examined in this study. Phytochemical characteristics of one native Romanian variety, Feteasca Neagra, were compared with data measured for three red grape varieties more commonly cultivated worldwide (Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Muscat Hamburg). It was found that the seeds of the Pinot Noir variety grown in an organic system contained the highest total phenolics of 169.53 ± 7.32 mg gallic acid equivalents/g and the highest total flavonoid content of 388.25 ± 10.72 mg quercetin equivalents/g, values corresponding to high antioxidant activity (312.84 ± 12.81 mg ascorbic acid equivalents/g). The total flavonoid content in the hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from seeds of Pinot Noir (organic vineyard) was around 24.5-fold higher than that of the skin of Pinot Noir (conventional vineyard). Experiments showed that seeds of all four tested grape varieties are good sources of total flavonoids, not only of total phenolics. When referring to the organic vineyard, the skin and pulp grapes showed good results for the total phenolic content. The antioxidant activities of the hydroalcoholic extracts were well-correlated with the total phenolic content and total flavonoid content. Lower values of these parameters were found for extracts obtained from skin and pulp than for those obtained from seeds of the same grape variety regardless of the culture management system (organic/conventional). Data mining techniques such as regression analysis, principal component analysis, and clustering analysis were applied to establish the potential correlation between the phytochemical content and the antioxidant activities of the red grapes on the one hand, and grape variety, anatomical parts, and vineyard type (organic/conventional) on the other hand.

The performance of any economy is based on scientific knowledge and technological innovation. Consequently, a highly motivated workforce with skills in science and engineering is key to any prosperous economy. Science education has a critical role in providing scientific literacy to students, as well as in training young people to choose careers linked to STEM education. Understanding the science concepts and their application is nowadays challenging for students, due to lack of interest and motivation. “Science is not for me” is, unfortunately, a frequent phrase heard when discussing with young people. It is clear that the way science is taught must be adapted to the student’s profile and needs. In this respect, in Romania, the CONNECT project comes to meet this gap by designing and implementing four structured scenarios, embracing the format of Science actions. In order to evaluate the impact of each Science action in terms of students’ perceptions and attitudes concerning science, an instrument based on a 5-point Likert scale was developed in the frame of the project partnership. The feedback of 83 students who participated in the Rewilding Science action was collected, being emphasized that students are feeling more confident to solve problems in science and consider that learning science is enjoyable, even learning science is not easy. Although the majority of the respondents would like to do projects with others using science to improve the world, they - in the same ratio - would not like to be seen as experts in science. Keywords: science education, Rewilding Science Action, students’ perceptions and attitudes, CONNECT project

Plants, animals, bacteria, and food waste are subjects of intensive research, as they are biological sources for the production of biopolymers. The topic links to global challenges related to the extended life cycle of products, and circular economy objectives. A severe and well-known threat to the environment, the non-biodegradability of plastics obliges different stakeholders to find legislative and technical solutions for producing valuable polymers which are biodegradable and also exhibit better characteristics for packaging products. Microorganisms are recognized nowadays as exciting sources for the production of biopolymers with applications in the food industry, package production, and several other fields. Ubiquitous organisms, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are well studied for the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS), but much less as producers of polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Based on their good biodegradability feature, as well as the possibility to be obtained from cheap biomass, PLA and PHAs polymers currently receive increased attention from both research and industry. The present review aims to provide an overview of LAB strains' characteristics that render them candidates for the biosynthesis of EPS, PLA, and PHAs, respectively. Further, the biopolymers' features are described in correlation with their application in different food industry fields and for food packaging. Having in view that the production costs of the polymers constitute their major drawback, alternative solutions of biosynthesis in economic terms are discussed.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the forage yield and chemical composition of six variants including two alfalfa cultivars, a bird's-foot trefoil cultivar, and three grass mixtures selected as valuable biological material for potential riparian grasslands' renovation. The experiments were carried out on plots in Dragomiresti village located near Dambovita River riparian area. One level of fertilization (120 g m-2) was considered for each variant. The plant material had high concentrations of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and phosphorus, respectively. All the fertilized samples exhibited higher concentrations of dry matter, nitrates, and phosphorus than the corresponding non-fertilized samples. High concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrates were determined for alfalfa which showed also the smallest amount of neutral detergent fiber. The maximum ADF content was found in the fertilized Valahia alfalfa cultivar and the non-fertilized complex grass mixture. Regarding the potential for riparian grassland renovation, we can conclude that the Valahia alfalfa cultivar and the complex grass mixture with five species performed better in terms of forage yield and overall quality.

The use of natural ingredients with active functions has been intensively studied in the last years, as a consequence to consumer preferences for organic products. Application of circular economy principles determined a significant research activity in the viticulture field. The use or re-use of vines parts for so-called nutraceuticals or other consumer-goods applications, are basically centered on their phytochemical and microbiological characterization. Eurostat updates ranks Romania fifth among the EU member states, with a total area under vines of 183,717 hectares. Characterization of four Vitis vinifera L. varieties, out of which one pure Romanian variety (Feteasca Neagra), cultivated in organic and conventional vineyards, together with pedoclimatic conditions have been provided. Data on phytochemical parameters and antimicrobial activity of extracts obtained from different anatomic parts of grapes were included. Analytical protocols and techniques applied were presented, together with data and results interpretation. Several chemometric algorithms have been used as complementary tools for interpretation of the instrumental analytical data.

Food plants provide a regulated source of delivery of functional compounds, plant secondary metabolites production being also tissue specific. In grape berries, the phenolic compounds, flavonoids and non-flavonoids, are distributed in the different parts of the fruit. The aim of this study was to investigate the applicability of FTIR and Raman screening spectroscopic techniques combined with multivariate statistical tools to find patterns in red grape berry parts (skin, seeds and pulp) according to grape variety and vineyard type (organic and conventional). Spectral data were acquired and processed using the same pattern for each different berry part (skin, seeds and pulp). Multivariate analysis has allowed a separation between extracts obtained from organic and conventional vineyards for each grape variety for all grape berry parts. The innovative approach presented in this work is low-cost and feasible, being expected to have applications in studies referring to the authenticity and traceability of foods. The findings of this study are useful as well in solving a great challenge that producers are confronting, namely the consumers’ distrust of the organic origin of food products. Further analyses of the chemical composition of red grapes may enhance the capability of the method of using both vibrational spectroscopy and chemometrics for discriminating the hydroalcoholic extracts according to grape varieties.