The projects AgriDerma and BioUpCycle, both led by researchers from the Centre of Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry at the Faculty of Biotechnology, of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, have been selected for the EWA 2025 Portugal – Empowering Women in Agrifood programme, promoted by EIT Food with the support of the European Union. The initiative supports women entrepreneurs with innovative ideas in the agri-food sector, fostering sustainable, fair, and resilient solutions.
The AgriDerma project, coordinated by Viviana Pinto Ribeiro, is based on the valorisation of rabbit skin – a by-product of the food industry that is usually discarded – to develop 3D models of human skin with applications in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and biomedical industries. Through biotechnological processes, rabbit dermis is transformed into biocompatible dermal matrices for human skin engineering. The project has a dual objective: to reduce agro-industrial waste and to offer an ethical, sustainable alternative to dermal substitutes and animal testing. Based on an international patent in collaboration with Cortadoria Nacional do Pêlo and Universidade Católica Portuguesa, AgriDerma represents a bridge between science, sustainability, and technological innovation. Over the next three years, the project aims to scale production and reach the European market, promoting a circular and local bioeconomy.
“Participation in EWA 2025 is a unique opportunity to accelerate the impact of AgriDerma and increase the visibility of scientific solutions that promote sustainability and innovation,” highlights Viviana Pinto Ribeiro, the project’s coordinator.
The BioUpCycle project, represented by Ana Martins Vilas Boas, is the result of the collaborative work of five researchers in the fields of biotechnology and food science, united by the mission to sustainably valorise agro-industrial waste. The project emerged from a scientific entrepreneurship course, where the team structured its business model and impact plan. BioUpCycle aims to transform fruit and vegetable waste into solid and liquid biostimulants that regenerate soil and enhance crop growth, as well as into liquid culture media for use in biotechnology and microbiology. These products are developed locally through sustainable biotechnological processes, reducing waste and promoting more eco-friendly farming practices.
“We are thrilled to be part of this network of innovative women and to continue developing solutions that create real impact in the agri-food sector!” says Ana Martins Vilas Boas, who represents the BioUpCycle team throughout the programme.
With the selection of two projects from the same research centre, Universidade Católica Portuguesa stands out within the national landscape of women-led agri-food innovation, reinforcing the transformative role of science in building a more sustainable future.
