CULTIVATION OF MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS IN ITALY: SANT'ANNA SCHOOL RESEARCHER DEVELOPS MOLECULAR PROBES FOR MONITORING HERBAL PRODUCTS
The “Mycotherapy in Italy and Medical Herbalism in Valmarecchia” conference will take place on Saturday, July 6, 10.30 am – 4.00 pm, in Pennabilli - Rimini, Il duca del Montefeltro Hotel. The conference marks the launch of the ValpharMarecchia initiative bringing together researchers, industry representatives and farmers to explore agricultural production systems for medicinal plants and herbal products.
Valpharma International and Erba Vita Group will coordinate the research along with Valpharma - San Marino. Researchers Giuseppe Venturella (University of Palermo) as the president of the newly established Società dei funghi medicinali (SIFM), Stefano Manfredini (University of Ferrara), Elisa Pellegrino of Sant'Anna School Institute of Life Sciences and a founding member of SIMF, Arrigo Cicero (University of Bologna) and Dr. Filippo Bosco (Santa Chiara Hospital - Pisa) are the keynote speakers who will discuss biodiversity and sustainable rural development; the role of molecular detection tools in monitoring plant health; the production of nutraceuticals and other food‐derived categories, such as food supplements, herbal products and functional foods as active components enhancing overall well‐being; practices of modern bioprospecting, science-to-business marketing and mycotherapy.
Elisa Pellegrino will offer a comprehensive understanding of the use of molecular probes to provide both qualitative observations and quantitative data on medicinal plants production after he application of fertilizers. Journalist Alessandro Gaeta (Tg1 RAI), Emma Petitti and Patrizio Bianchi (Emilia Romagna Region Authority), Alessia Valducci (President of Valpharma Group), and the project partners of Fondazione Valmarecchia, Cooperativa Terre biologiche and GalIlia Varo will discuss the industrial cultivation of medicinal mushrooms, the industrial potential of submerged cultivation, product yields and development of mushroom-based products, commercialization of mushroom nutraceuticals.
Cover photo: Elisa Pellegrino
