Vinny Project -

The partner Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), represented by researcher Olesia Havryliuk, showcased the developments of VINNY Project at the FEMS Congress 2025, one of Europe’s leading microbiology conferences, held from July 14 to 17, 2025, in Milan, Italy. 

Organised by the Federation of European Microbiological Societies, the event included the presentation of UPC’s poster titled “Nano-Driven Biopesticide Encapsulation: Pioneering Sustainable Solutions for Managing Penicillium expansum and Rhizobium vitis in Agricultural and Environmental Systems”, showcasing the potential of nano-enabled delivery systems using ecologically safe carriers (e.g., lignin, mesoporous, and Bacillus endospores) to enhance stability, bioactivity, and the controlled release of antifungal compounds. The research contributes to the development of innovative and sustainable plant protection strategies.

In addition to the poster presentation, UPC the representative also chaired the interactive session titled “Microbial Spies: Solving Real-World Cases with Microbial Forensics”. The conference engaged researchers of simulated outbreak and contamination scenarios, exploring how microbiologists, working alongside experts in biotechnology, nanotechnology, bioinformatics, and environmental science, can trace and solve real-world biological threats. Participants also worked in teams to interpret microbial evidence, highlighting the interdisciplinary power of microbiology in addressing agricultural, ecological, and public health challenges.

VINNY Project drew strong interest from scientists across Europe, fostering dialogue around applied microbiology, innovation, and future collaborative directions.