Francesca Valenti | Agricultural | Most Reader’s Article Award

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Prof Dr. Francesca Valenti | Agricultural | Most Reader’s Article Award

Professor at Università di Bologna – Alma Mater Studiorum, Italy

Dr. Francesca Valenti is a highly accomplished professional in the field of Agricultural, Forestry, and Biosystems Engineering, with a strong academic background and extensive experience in research, teaching, and project management. She holds a Ph.D. in Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Science and has received national scientific qualifications to function as both an Associate Professor and a Full Professor in Italian Universities. Dr. Valenti has been recognized for her research contributions with awards such as the “Adriano Guarneri” award for the best Ph.D. thesis in Agricultural Engineering. With a diverse range of research interests, including sustainable development, biogas production, and precision agriculture, Dr. Valenti has been involved in several research projects funded by prestigious institutions. Her expertise extends to various software tools, including Microsoft Office, QGIS, R Studio, AutoCAD, and others, which she utilizes in her research and teaching activities. Dr. Valenti’s teaching experience is extensive, spanning across different academic levels and topics such as informatics, data survey analysis, and CAD/GIS modules. She is also a sought-after lecturer, having been invited to speak at conferences and events, demonstrating her expertise and reputation in the field. Overall, Dr. Francesca Valenti’s dedication to advancing agricultural engineering, coupled with her academic achievements and practical skills, make her a valuable asset to the academic and research community.

Professional Profiles:

📚 Education:

Dr. Francesca Valenti obtained her PhD in Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Science from the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Environment at the University of Catania on February 27, 2018. Her doctoral thesis focused on the sustainable development of regional biogas production, specifically conducting a GIS-based Techno Economic Assessment in Southern Italy. Prior to her doctoral studies, Dr. Valenti completed a Master’s course at the Department of Humanities at the University of Catania in 2015, where she explored the sustainable use of cultural and environmental heritage. She also holds a Master of Science in Architectural and Building Engineering from the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture at the University of Catania, achieved in 2012. Her master’s thesis centered on the existing building acoustic requalification according to the UNI 11367 standard. Additionally, Dr. Valenti has received national scientific qualifications to function as an Associate Professor and Full Professor in Italian Universities for the Macro sector 07C1 – Agricultural, Forestry, and Biosystems Engineering, in 2018 and 2021, respectively.

📝Research:

Dr. Francesca Valenti has been involved in several research projects, showcasing her expertise and commitment to innovative agricultural practices. She collaborated in the research program “Soluzioni innovative per la sicurezza alimentare nella filiera cerealicola (S.I.S.A.CER.)” funded by Bando POR FESR Sicilia 2007-2013, Sicily region, from May 15, 2014, to July 15, 2014. Her research focused on monitoring and processing microclimatic data recorded during thermal treatment for insect pests control. From January 1, 2015, to April 30, 2018, Dr. Valenti participated in the research program “Soluzioni tecnologiche innovative per la valorizzazione degli scarti degli agrumi (SOCRATE)” funded by the Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico. Here, she applied the LCA methodology to evaluate the innovative processes adopted during the project. Another significant contribution was her collaboration in the research program “FIR-2014- Analisi per lo sviluppo della filiera biometano in ambiente mediterraneo” from March 6, 2015, to October 30, 2017. This project, funded by a Public announcement (D.R. n. 2334, 03/06/2014) – codice 335C3E, involved territorial analysis of Mediterranean biomasses availability using Geographic Information Systems. Additionally, Dr. Valenti participated in the research program “FIR-2014- Messa a punto di un sistema automatico per lo studio del comportamento individuale di bovine da latte in stabulazione libera” from March 6, 2015, to October 30, 2017, under the same funding source. Lastly, she contributed to the research program “Progetto di ricerca industriale sul Pastazzo di Agrumi” from November 1, 2015, to January 1, 2016, funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation. Her research involved territorial analysis through GIS application for localizing industrial citrus processing companies that produce citrus pulp usable in anaerobic digestion processes for biogas production.

🗣️Professional experience:

Dr. Francesca Valenti has a diverse professional background, starting with her current role as an Associate Professor at the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, where she has been since July 1, 2023. Prior to this, she served as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Environment at the University of Catania from April 22, 2020, to June 30, 2023. Before her appointment as an Assistant Professor, Dr. Valenti was a Post-doctoral Fellow Researcher at the same department from February 1, 2019, to January 31, 2020, focusing on the development of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology to sustainable localize new biogas plants fed by feedstock-mixture suitable for enhancing biogas production. Dr. Valenti also held a research contract at the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Environment at the University of Catania from December 21, 2018, to February 21, 2019, where she worked on territorial data elaboration for developing a model to quantify electrical and thermal energy from citrus pulp and olive pomace anaerobic digestion. Additionally, she served as a Professor by contract for the Laboratory of Informatics (M-Z course) at the same department, focusing on Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Science and Technology for the academic year 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 – 1° Year, from November 1, 2018, to April 22, 2020. Prior to these roles, Dr. Valenti was a Post-doctoral fellow at the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Environment at the University of Catania from March 12, 2018, to September 12, 2018, where her research activity involved GIS-based model developing for evaluating the agro-industrial by-products availability through suitable index. She also held a research contract at the Research center for Sustainable Development of the Mediterranean Area (C.Ri.S.A.M.) – Centro di Ricerca per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile dell’Area Mediterranea from November 1, 2017, to December 11, 2017, focusing on spatial analysis to quantify and localize innovative biomasses suitable for enhancing biogas production.

🏆Awards:

Dr. Francesca Valenti has received prestigious awards and recognitions for her outstanding contributions to the field of Agricultural Engineering. She was awarded the National Scientific Qualification to function as a Full Professor in Italian Universities for the Macro sector 07C1 – Agricultural, Forestry, and Biosystems Engineering, valid from June 2021 until June 2030. Prior to this, she achieved the National Scientific Qualification to function as an Associate Professor in Italian Universities for the same sector, valid from October 2018 until October 2027. Additionally, Dr. Valenti was honored with the “Adriano Guarneri” award for the best Ph.D. thesis in Agricultural Engineering by the Italian Association of Agricultural Engineering in July 2017, further highlighting her exceptional research and academic achievements.

Teaching experience:

Dr. Francesca Valenti has a comprehensive teaching experience, contributing significantly to various courses related to Agricultural Science and Technology. She served as a Professor by contract for the Laboratory of Informatics (M-Z course) at the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Science and Technology, for the academic years 2018/2019 and 2019/2020, focusing on 1st-year students. In the academic year 2020/2021, Dr. Valenti took on multiple teaching roles, including Professor of Data survey analysis for Precision Agriculture and Professor of Computer lab and computer-aided design for 3rd-year students in the Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Science and Technology. Additionally, she served as a Professor of CAD and GIS modules for the course CAD, GIS, and Participatory Mapping for the PhD in Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Science. In October 2021, Dr. Valenti was an Invited Main Lecturer at the 3rd Joint Meeting of Agriculture-oriented PhD Programs UniCT, UniFG, and UniUD, where she delivered a lecture titled “GIS modelling for precision and sustainable agriculture.” Continuing her teaching commitment, in the academic year 2021/2022, Dr. Valenti resumed her role as a Professor of Data survey analysis for Precision Agriculture for 3rd-year students in the Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Science and Technology. She also took on the role of Professor in Buildings and Landscape for Food and Wine itineraries for 3rd-year students in the Bachelor’s Degree in Science and Technology for Food Service and Distribution of Mediterranean Foods, showcasing her versatility and expertise in various fields of agricultural education.

Skills:

Dr. Francesca Valenti possesses a wide range of software skills that enhance her capabilities in various aspects of her work. She is proficient in Microsoft Office, which includes Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, facilitating her administrative and presentation tasks. Additionally, Dr. Valenti is skilled in QGIS software, enabling her to work with geographic information systems effectively. Her proficiency in R Studio allows her to conduct statistical analysis and data visualization, crucial for her research in Agricultural Science and Technology. Furthermore, she is experienced in AutoCAD and 3DS Max Design, which are essential for her work in architectural and building engineering, particularly in existing building acoustic requalification and computer-aided design. Dr. Valenti also has expertise in Photoshop and Corel Draw, which are valuable for graphic design and image editing tasks. Her proficiency extends to ArchiCAD, SAP 2000, and CDS Software, which are essential for architectural and engineering design and analysis. Additionally, she is familiar with Software Echo 6.0 Acustica and software termotecnica ACCA, which are crucial for acoustic and thermotechnical analysis, respectively. Moreover, Dr. Valenti is skilled in Minitab, a statistical software, and Simulation CFD 2015, which is used for computational fluid dynamics analysis. These software skills highlight her versatility and competence in utilizing a wide range of tools to support her research and teaching activities in the field of Agricultural, Forestry, and Biosystems Engineering.

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📚Publications :

Anaerobic co-digestion of multiple agricultural residues to enhance biogas production in southern Italy

Authors: F Valenti, Y Zhong, M Sun, SMC Porto, A Toscano, BE Dale, F Sibilla

Citations: 75

Year: 2018

Spatial analysis of feedstock supply and logistics to establish regional biogas power generation: A case study in the region of Sicily

Authors: F Valenti, SMC Porto, BE Dale, W Liao

Citations: 59

Year: 2018

Evaluation of biomethane potential from by-products and agricultural residues co-digestion in southern Italy

Authors: F Valenti, SMC Porto, R Selvaggi, B Pecorino

Citations: 50

Year: 2018

Use of citrus pulp for biogas production: a GIS analysis of citrus-growing areas and processing industries in South Italy

Authors: F Valenti, SMC Porto, G Chinnici, R Selvaggi, G Cascone, C Arcidiacono

Citations: 46

Year: 2017

Energy and environmental assessment of plastic granule production from recycled greenhouse covering films in a circular economy perspective

Authors: S Cascone, C Ingrao, F Valenti, SMC Porto

Citations: 43

Year: 2020

Sequential crops for food, energy, and economic development in rural areas: The case of Sicily

Authors: R Selvaggi, F Valenti, G Pappalardo, L Rossi, S Bozzetto, B Pecorino

Citations: 43

Year: 2018

Quantification of olive pomace availability for biogas production by using a GIS‐based model

Authors: F Valenti, C Arcidiacono, G Chinnici, G Cascone, SMC Porto

Citations: 42

Year: 2017

Covering plastic films in greenhouses system: A GIS-based model to improve post-use sustainable management

Authors: MCM Parlato, F Valenti, SMC Porto

Citations: 40

Year: 2020

Co-digestion of by-products and agricultural residues: A bioeconomy perspective for a Mediterranean feedstock mixture

Authors: F Valenti, SMC Porto, R Selvaggi, B Pecorino

Citations: 40

Year: 2020

Tomato puree in the Mediterranean region: An environmental Life Cycle Assessment, based upon data surveyed at the supply chain level

Authors: C Ingrao, N Faccilongo, F Valenti, G De Pascale, L Di Gioia, A Messineo

Citations: 36

Year: 2019

Life cycle assessment of agro-industrial by-product reuse: a comparison between anaerobic digestion and conventional disposal treatments

Authors: F Valenti, W Liao, SMC Porto

Citations: 34

Year: 2020

Potential biogas production from agricultural by-products in Sicily. A case study of citrus pulp and olive pomace

Authors: F Valenti, SMC Porto, G Cascone, C Arcidiacono

Citations: 33

Year: 2017

A GIS‐based model to estimate citrus pulp availability for biogas production: an application to a region of the Mediterranean Basin

Authors: F Valenti, SMC Porto, G Chinnici, G Cascone, C Arcidiacono

Citations: 33

Year: 2016

Assessment of citrus pulp availability for biogas production by using a GIS-based model: The case study of an area in southern Italy

Authors: Valenti, Porto, Chinnici, Cascone, Arcidiacono

Citations: 32

Year: 2017