Program
Day 1: Monday, 4 May 2026
Venue: Tehnikamaja, Estonian University of Life Sciences | F. R. Kreutzwaldi tn 56-1, 51006 Tartu, Estonia | Room A204
Introductions
09:00-09.10
Welcome Speech
Prof. Marek Metslaid · Director, Institute of Forestry and Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia
09:10-09:30
Opening Remarks & ENFiber Overview
Prof. Mecit Halil Öztop · ENFiber COST Action Chair, Middle East Technical University, Türkiye
Session 1: Waste & By-product Valorization as Fiber Sources (Oral Presentations)
Moderators: Prof. Zehra Ayhan · Sakarya University, Türkiye | Dr. Leonidas Matsakas · Luleå Tekniska Universitet, Sweden
09:30-09:45
Advancing Fiber Valorization from Food & Agro-Processing Waste in Kosovo: Scientific, Technological and Industrial Perspectives
Bytyqi, Hysen et al. - University of Prishtina, Kosovo
09:45-10:00
Dietary Fibers from Food By-products: Up-cycled Cocoa Bean Shells as Functional Ingredient
Disca, Vincenzo et al. - University of Eastern Piedmont, Italy
10:00-10:15
Valorisation of Fruit Waste to Obtain Microalgae Biomass with High Dietary Fiber Content
Ergüden, Bengü - Gebze Technical University, Türkiye
10:15-10:30
Waste to Wellness: Green Valorization of Fruit By-products into Bioactive Fibers for Sustainable Food Systems
Kharbouch, Ikram; Khald, Hajar; Rahim, Souad – University Hassan II Casablanca, Morocco
10:30-10.45
Biochemical Conversion of Vegetable Waste towards Biomass and Biohydrogen Production by E. coli
Trchounian, Karen - Yerevan State University, Armenia
10:45-11:15
Coffee Break
Session 2: Green Extraction & Processing Technologies (Oral Presentations)
Moderators: Dr. Jolanta Sereikaite · Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania | Prof. Karen Trchounian · Yerevan State University, Armenia
11:30-11:45
Valorization of Apple Pomace Through Ultrasound and Microwave-Assisted Extraction: Sustainable Technologies for Pectin and Dietary Fiber Recovery
Ceclu, Liliana - Cahul State University, Moldova
11:45-12:00
Optical Emission Spectroscopy Monitoring of Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species in Plasma-Assisted Extraction
Pleslic, Sanda et al. - University of Zagreb, Croatia
12.00-12:15
Effect of Microwave-Assisted Hydrolysis and High-Pressure Homogenization on Cellulose Production from Olive Pomace
Ateş, Elif et al. - Çankırı Karatekin University, Türkiye
12.15-12:30
Recovery of Fibers from Aromatic Plant Residues via Advanced Extraction Technologies
Turabi Yolaçaner, Elif - Hacettepe University, Türkiye
12:30-13:30
Lunch Break
Session 3: Cellulose, Biopolymers & Advanced Materials (Invited Lecturer +Oral Presentations)
Moderators: Dr. Belen Garcia · Plataforma Tecnológica Española de Envase y Embalaje, Spain | Dr. Frederick Lia · BioKimika Extra Analytica, Malta
13:30-13:50
(Invited Lecturer) - Tuneable Bio-based Chitosan Hydrogels for Superaerophobic Electrode Coatings
Prof. Osojnik Črnivec, Ilja Gasan et al. - Kemijski Institut (National Institute of Chemistry), Slovenia
13:50-14:05
Mechanical, Barrier and Photoprotective Properties of PLA Films Reinforced with Maleic Anhydride-Modified Nano/Microfibrillated Cellulose
İnal, Ezgi; Erdem, Gizem Melissa; Ayhan, Zehra - Sakarya University, Türkiye
14:05-14:20
Structural, Thermal and Morphological Characterization of PLA Composites Incorporated with Chemically Modified Cellulose
Erdem, Gizem Melissa; İnal, Ezgi; Ayhan, Zehra - Sakarya University, Türkiye
14:20-14:35
Production of a cellulosic fiber from cocoa bean shells
Öztop, Mecit Halil - Middle East Technical University, Türkiye
14:35-14:50
Sustainable Multifunctional Hemp-Based Foams via Reversible Citric Acid Crosslinking
Dr. Platnieks, Oskars - Riga Technical University, Latvia
14:50-15:05
Lignocellulosic Fibres - Quantification of Fibre Morphology and Applications in Thermoformed Products
Chinga Carrasco, Gary - RISE PFI, Norway
15:05-15:35
Coffee Break
Poster Session (Poster Presentations)
15:35-16:50
Health Benefits of Dietary Fiber from Macadamia Oil and Brazil Nut Processing By-Products
Nakov, Gjore et al. - Technical University of Sofia, Bulgaria
Understanding Starch Dissolution in Deep Eutectic Solvents: From Water–DES Interactions to Extraction from Potato Peel Waste
Osojnik Črnivec, I.G. et al. - National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia
Sustainable Micellar Extraction of Curcuminoids from Curcuma longa
Bellaadem, Assya et al. - National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia
Optimisation of Enzymatic and Processing Conditions for Recovery of Bioactive Phenolics from Olive Pomace
Dr. Lia, Frederick - BioKimika Extra Analytica, Malta
Understanding the Effect of Extrusion on Fiber and Phenolic Compounds of Strawberry Pomace in Starch-Based Extrudates
Le Bourvellec, Carine - INRAE, France
Extraction of Soluble Dietary Fiber from Red Beetroot Waste for Encapsulation and Delivery of Antimicrobial Peptide Nisin
Dr. Sereikaitė, Jolanta - Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania
Valorization of Bilberry Pomace as a Fiber-Rich Material for Sustainable Paper Production
Todorović, Ana et al. - National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia
Incorporation of Passion Fruit By-product as Functional Ingredient in Gluten-Free Flours: Effect on Dietary Fiber and Arabinoxylans
Ciudad-Mulero, María et al. - Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
Two Biodegradable Biopolymers from Carbohydrates of Ulva rigida Seaweed
Teles, Marco et al. - Instituto Superior Técnico, Portugal
Screening Agro-Industrial By-Products as Promising Feedstocks for Upcycled Antioxidant Dietary Fibre
Ribeiro, Tânia et al. - ESB – Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Portugal
Production of Value-Added Bioactive Fibers from Beverage Industry Diatomite Filtration Wastes via Microbial Fermentation: A Circular Biorefinery Approach
Sakallı Aktürk, Latife - Uludağ Beverage / Bursa Technical University, Turkey
Day 2: Tuesday, 5 May 2026
Venue: Tehnikamaja, Estonian University of Life Sciences | F. R. Kreutzwaldi tn 56-1, 51006 Tartu, Estonia | Room A204
Session 4: Characterization, Analytics & Physical Methods (Invited Lecturer +Oral Presentations)
Moderators: Dr. Lubna Ahmed · Dundalk Institute of Technology, Ireland | Dr. Oskars Platnieks · Riga Technical University, Latvia
09:00-09:20
(Invited Lecturer) - Magnetic Resonance as a Development and Monitoring Tool for Valorising Fiber
Prof. Morris, Robert - Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom
09:20-09:35
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Applications for Fiber Quantification and Characterization as a Strategic Tool for Waste Valorization
Mr. Vega Castellote, Miguel; Pérez-Marín, Dolores - University of Córdoba, Spain
09:35-09:50
Microcrystalline Cellulose from Olive Pomace: Effect of Bleaching on Structure, Water Interactions, and Caking Behavior
Tonyali Karsli, Gokcem - Middle East Technical University, Türkiye
09:50-10:05
Analytics for Characterization of Food Carbohydrates and Dietary Fibers
Oliveira Pandeirada, Carolina - Nestlé R&D
10:05-10:20
Water Dynamics in Polymers and Fibres - Insight from NMR Relaxometry
Kruk, Danuta - University of Warmia and Mazury, Poland
10:20-10:50
Coffee Break
Session 5: Bioactive Properties, Health & Gut Relevance (Invited Lecturer +Oral Presentations)
Moderators: Dr. Elisabete Coelho · University of Aveiro, Portugal | Mr. Ahmed Menevseoglu · Agri Ibrahim Cecen University, Türkiye
10:50-11:10
(Invited Lecturer) - Nutritional Fibers from Wood Biomass
Prof. Mikkonen, Kirsi et al. - University of Helsinki, Finland
11:10-11:25
Engineering a Precise Biocatalyst: Directed Evolution of Inulosucrase for Short-Chain Prebiotic Fibers
Yadid, Itamar - Tel Hai University, Israel
11:25-11:40
Strategies to Obtain Polysaccharides from Agaricus bisporus By-products for Hypocholesterolemic Food Ingredients
Arranca, Maria et al. - University of Aveiro, Portugal
11:40-11:55
Chitosan as Natural Biofungicides for the Management of Fungal Diseases of Fresh Fruit and Grapevine
Moumni, Marwa et al. - Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy
11:55-12:10
Tomato-Derived Functional Foods with Enhanced Antitumor Activity
Gorgisen, Gokhan et al. - University of Health Sciences, Türkiye
Comparative Functional and Bioactive Characterization of Beetroot and Raspberry By-Product Extracts
Ramzan, Khadija - Lithuania Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Lithuania
12:25-13:25
Lunch Break
Session 6: Fermentation, Single-Cell Proteins & Novel Food Ingredients (Oral Presentations)
Moderators: Dr. Natasha Ritovsaka · Platforma Za Zelen Razvoj, North Macedonia | Mr. Miguel Vega Castellote · University of Córdoba, Spain
13:25-13:40
From Bio-Based Polysaccharides to Functional Aerogels for Food Applications
Güven, Özge; Öztop, Mecit Halil - Middle East Technical University, Türkiye
13:40-13:55
Bioconversion of Fiber-Rich Agro-Food Residues into Yarrowia lipolytica Biomass for Sustainable Food-Grade Production
Ugur, Suheda et al. - Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Poland
13:55-14:10
Single-Cell Protein Biomass as a Sustainable Source of Protein and Dietary Fiber: Properties of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Fusarium venenatum
Araújo-Rodrigues, Helena et al. - Catholic University of Portugal, Portugal
14:10-14:25
Cross-Sector Valorization: Agro-industrial and Sea By-products via Aspergillus oryzae Solid-State Fermentation
Bautista Hernandez, Israel et al. - Catholic University of Portugal, Portugal
14:25-14:5
Coffee Break
Session 7: Scale-Up, Sustainability, Standardization & Policy (Invited Lecturer + Oral Presentations)
Moderators: Dr. Liliana Ceclu · Cahul State University "Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu", Moldova | Prof. Sony George · NTNU, Norway
14:55-15:15
(Invited Lecturer) - New Challenges in the Risk Assessment of Fiber-Rich Ingredients as Food Additives in Europe
Prof. Morales, Patricia - The Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
15:15-15:30
From Fiber Products to Platform Chemicals: Scale-Up Perspectives from the University of Hohenheim Biorefinery
Arauzo Gimeno, Pablo J. - University of Hohenheim, Germany
15:30-15:50
From Research to Impact: Capitalising and Scaling PRIMA Agrofood Innovations (2018-2025) for Circular Bioeconomy Transformation
Mohammed, Wageih - PRIMA Foundation
15:50-16:05
ENFiber COST Action: Network Achievements and Future Outlook
Prof. Öztop, Mecit Halil - ENFiber COST Action Chair, Middle East Technical University, Türkiye
16:05-16:15
Closing Remarks & Conference Wrap-Up
Social Event: Conference Dinner
Date & Time: Tuesday, 5 May 2026 at 19:00
Location: Ülikooli Kohvik | Ülikooli tn 20, 51005 Tartu
Day 3: Wednesday, 6 May 2026
MC Meeting
Venue: Metsamaja, Estonian University of Life Sciences | F. R. Kreutzwaldi tn 5a, 51006 Tartu, Estonia | Room 1A5
09:00-16:00
Management Committee Meeting + Working Groups Meeting
Social Event: Boat Trip
Date & Time: Wednesday, 6 May 2026 at 17:00 (2-hour trip)
Meeting Point: Starting point and End point (Google maps link)
COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding agency for research and innovation networks. Our actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This boosts their research, career and innovation.
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