AlBread
The Perfect Fresh Bread
Aromatic plants from Alentejo, probiotics and acorn flour in the development of functional bread
The Project
The combination of aromatic plants native to the Alentejo, probiotic ferments, and acorn flour results in a functional bread that brings together sustainability, tradition, and nutritional innovation. This product represents an opportunity to enhance Portuguese endogenous resources while meeting the demands of modern consumers who seek healthier, more natural foods with additional health benefits.
Suitable for people with food intolerances
Gluten Free
Promote food digestibility
Enhanced shelf-life
Novel added-value product with benefit social/economic impacts
Valorisation of natural resources
Benefits for the society
- Improve digestion and prevent flatulence
Suitable for people with food intolerance
Improve health and life quality
Benefits for the scientific community
Novel solvent-assisted extraction of EOs
Innovative biopolymer-based capsules for EOs and probiotics
Synergy between EOs and probiotics
Insights in the encapsulation mechanisms and release kinetics
Novel bread formulations
Easily scalable process
Suitable for other substances or EOs
Extensible to other regions of Portugal
Benefits for the region
Valorisation of “Montado”
Alternative source of raw materials to replace cereals (scarcity)
Valorisation of native aromatic plants
Development of local economy
Job opportunities
Reduction of desertification
Consortium
The Team
Margarida Oliveira
Isabela dos Anjos
Luis Alves
I finished my PhD in Macromolecular Chemistry in 2015, at the University of Coimbra, having been invited researcher at the Lund University (Sweden). I am the PI of two funded projects (one laCaixa/FCT-funded project and one CENTRO2030-FEDER funded), and I am involved in the scientific coordination of an FCT project. During the last years, I have been involved in the coordination of more than 15 R&D projects, involving companies such as BASF GmbH, Amorim & Irmãos, among others, and am inventor of two patents (granted). Had published 56 articles in international peer-review journals, (h-index: 25; ca. 2250 citations).). I am editor-in-chief of the Applied Rheology journal (DeGruyter), member of the editorial board of the Macromol journal (MDPI), of the Physical Chemistry and Chemical Physics (speciality section of Frontiers in Chemistry and Frontiers in Physics), section board member of the Polymers journal (MDPI), project peer reviewer for the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, and reviewer of several scientific top journals. I have been involved in the supervision of 15 master’s theses (12 concluded and 3 ongoing), and, in the supervision of four PhD theses (2 finished and 2 ongoing). Had delivered more than 45 oral and poster communications at international conferences.
Email: luisalves@ci.uc.pt
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4447-5107
SCOPUS: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55936457700
Maria Graça Rasteiro
Maria Graça Rasteiro. Completed the Título de Agregado in 2012/12 by Universidade de Coimbra, PhD in Chemical Engineering in 1988/10/05 by Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia and Licenciatura in Chemical Engineering in 1975/07/04 by Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia. Is Associate Professor with Aggregation in Universidade de Coimbra. Published over 100 articles in international journals. Has 1 book and several book chapters. Has received 4 awards and/or honors. Works in the area(s) of Engineering and Technology with emphasis on Chemical Engineering. In his curriculum Ciência Vitae the most frequent terms in the context of scientific, technological and artistic-cultural output are: Particle Technology; Biopolymers; Multiphase processes; Particle Characterization; Soils remediation; Flocculation; Rheology; Effluents treatment; Emulsions; on-line education methodologies; Modelling; Process design; nanotechnology; ceramics; polyelectrolytes; pulp & paper. She is a member of the EFCE, working groups of Particle Characterization and Mechanics of Particulate flows. She is also a member of the Portuguese Engineers Association having integrated the board of Direction of the central region of Portugal from 2010-2016. She coordinated the Research Centre on Chemical Processes and Forest Products from 2001-2003 and from 2011-2015, she has also been coordinating the Research Group on Particles, Polymers and Biomaterials from the same Research Centre since 2013.
Email: mgr@eq.uc.pt
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6084-4553
SCOPUS: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=8634054600
Carlos Cavaleiro
PhD in Pharmacy, speciality of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry granted by the University of Coimbra. Associate Professor of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra and Senior Researcher of the Chemical Process Engineering and Forest Products Research Centre. Research on the Biology and Chemistry of Natural Products applied to 1) Life and Health Sciences – contributions for drug discovery, efficacy and safety of herbal drugs, development of methods for quality assessment of herbal medicinal products, dietary supplements and cosmetics; 2) Biological Sciences – contributions on plant diversity and conservation; 3) Forest Sciences and Crop Production – contributions to alternative crops of medicinal and aromatic plants; technology and quality of essential oils.
Email: cavaleir@ff.uc.pt
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5937-1127
SCOPUS: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=6602763288
Carla Varela
Após ter concluído o Mestrado Integrado em Ciências Farmacêuticas na Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Coimbra, realizou o doutoramento em Farmácia com especialidade em Química Farmacêutica. O seu percurso profissional prosseguiu na Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Coimbra onde trabalhou como professora auxiliar durante 5 anos, sendo que nos últimos anos tem trabalhado como investigadora em diversos projetos de investigação, um dos quais como investigadora responsável. A sua investigação tem sido especialmente focada na síntese química de compostos bioativos, sobretudo esteróides mas também compostos fenólicos. Recentemente, tem estado mais envolvida na utilização de produtos de origem natural, sobretudo plantas aromática e medicinais mas também produtos da floresta, com vista a vários fins. Desta atividade resultou, até à data, três capítulos de livro, quarenta e um artigos publicados em revistas internacionais com peer-review, dois proceedings e vinte e quatro abstracts em revistas internacionais com referees e um em revista nacional, e uma patente. Da sua investigação ainda resultaram outras publicações, nomeadamente, cinco livros, seis folhetos de exposições e um catálogo de exposição, quatro painéis autoportantes, dois preprints e duas entradas em enciclopédias.
Keywords:
– síntese química; – produtos naturais; – processos de extração e purificação
Email: carla.varela@uc.pt
Web references:
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9824-4753
SCOPUS ID: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=24766784300
Solange Sá Magalhães
Solange Sá Magalhães is a postdoctoral researcher at Mid Sweden University, in Sweden, where she develops innovative lignocellulose-based solutions for the removal of microplastics and other contaminants in water treatment plants. She holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Coimbra, where she also completed her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry.
Throughout her career, she has gained diverse experience in research, industry, and teaching. At the University of Coimbra, she was part of national and international research teams, with scientific output published in leading journals and several registered patents. In the industrial sector, she held positions of responsibility in quality, process, and R&D, leading innovation initiatives and the development of chemical products and detergents, with a focus on sustainability and environmental efficiency.
She stands out for her ability to integrate multidisciplinary knowledge in chemistry, engineering, and materials science, applying it to the development of sustainable solutions for current environmental challenges. Her career reflects a strong commitment to technological innovation, sustainability, and the transfer of knowledge between academia and industry, in line with global trends in health, environment, and the circular economy.
Email: solangemagalhaes@eq.uc.pt
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0625-5675
SCOPUS: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57191614530
Célia Cabral
Célia Cabral is Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra and Invited Professor in the Universidade Lusófona, Lisbon. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University de Coimbra in 2003. In 2008, she completed her PhD in Biology, speciality in Systematics and Morphology from the same University, involving the Faculty of Sciences and Technology, the Faculty of Pharmacy and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), UK, where she collaborated with several researchers. Also in the University of Coimbra, in 2003 she completed a Post-Graduation in Forest Resources and Sustainable Development (Faculty of Sciences and Technology) and in 2010 a Post-Graduation in Plant-based Medicines and Health Products (Faculty of Pharmacy). Between 2004 and 2009, she did a considerable number of research visits and internships in international institutions such as: Herbier National du Cameroun, Yaoundé – HNC-IRAD, Cameroon (2004); Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, UK (2004); Natural History Museum London, UK (2004); Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, UK (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007); Jardin Botanique National de Belgique, Meise, Belgium (2005); Muséum National d´Histoire Naturelle Paris, France (2005); Department of Plant Systematics and Evolution, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Austria (2006); Natural History Museum Vienna, Austria (2006); Institute for Applied Botany, University of Veterinarian Medicine of Vienna, Austria (2006; 2007). Herbarium Vadense, University of Wageningen, Netherlands (2009). After obtaining her PhD, Célia Cabral moved to the Faculty of Pharmacy (University of Coimbra) where she performed between 2011 and 2017, post-doctoral research in History of Science (in particular, History of Pharmacognosy in Portugal: the revival of ancient knowledge through the study of medicinal plants). Célia Cabral ‘s expertise is mainly in Plant Taxonomy, Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, Pharmacognosy and Plant-based health solutions. Her current research interests focus on compilation of knowledge about medicinal plants and practices and validation of the medicinal plant uses from Europe, Africa, South America and Asia. She also has vast experience in field work (Portugal and África), herbarium collection, preparation and identification (with an extensive network with reference Herbaria across the World), pharmacognosy and phytochemistry. Célia Cabral has a scientific career of more than 20 years, with a multidisciplinary scientific path, with a publication track record on medicinal plants, natural drug leads, phytochemistry, non-communicable diseases, plant-based health solutions, history of science and science communication. Since 2019, she created her research group focusing on the study of phytochemicals from natural origins, intending to develop plant-based health solutions. The group is: Phytochemicals, Metabolism and Disease (Plants4Health), within the research unit CIBB/UC. After Web of Science, she has 102 publications, being 81 Web of Science Core Collection publications, with 1568 citations and an h-index of 21. At present, she supervises 6 PhD students, 4 MSc students and various undergraduate students. She is reviewer of almost 50 journals and belongs to the editorial board of various journals, including Pharmaceuticals, Phytomedicine, Phytomedicine Plus and Scientific Reports. She is evaluator for funding bodies, including Wallonia-Brussels Federation (Belgium), CFCA (Latvia), ANI (Portugal), UEFISCDI (Romania), National Science Centre (Poland) and European Commission (Belgium). She has been team member of various research projects, PI of a recently finished project and currently she is Co-PI of an European project and team member of other 4 ongoing projects.
Email: celia.cabral@fmed.uc.pt
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4562-6683
SCOPUS: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=25222407900
Bruno Medronho
Bruno Medronho (BM) graduated in Chemistry from the University of Coimbra in 2004 and completed his PhD in Macromolecular Chemistry (mixed fellowship), in 2009, in the same institution. During the PhD, BM received 2 years of scientific training in Lund University (Sweden) at the Division of Physical Chemistry (Prof. Ulf Olsson) and has also been an invited guest researcher in Paderborn University (Prof. Claudia Schmidt, Germany) and at Wellington University (Sir Paul Callaghan and Prof. Petrik Galvosas, New Zealand). Since BM has obtained his PhD degree, he has been successfully involved in the research of 2 major R&D international consortiums composed of several academic and industrial partners such as IKEA and H&M. These consortiums, CelluNova/Kiram and CelluNova2, aimed at developing and commercialise new environmentally improved processes for the production of regenerated cellulose fibers. Within the projects framework, BM was guest researcher at Swerea IVF, Mölndal (Prof. Bengt Hagström) and at Karlstad University (Prof. Ulf Germgård). BM was also a collaborator of AvanCell (Södra’s Research Foundation) and organized the Avancell Summit in Faro, 2015. In 2012, BM became a Postdoctoral fellow at the University of Algarve (UAlg) where, since then, he has been coordinating a new research line, focusing on biopolymer dissolution, regeneration and novel materials whose merit and quality was recognized in 2014, with the “Research and Technological Innovation” award delivered by the Portuguese Minister for Agriculture and Sea. BM is the co-author of 6 book chapters and has published >90 papers in international peer review journals (h-index: 39 and ca. 5390 citations, Google scholar accessed on 10 April 2025). BM was the Guest Editor of the special issue “Cellulose dissolution and regeneration: systems and interactions” published in the Nordic Pulp & Paper Research Journal, “Cellulose and Renewable Materials” and “Cellulose and Lignin Feedstock for Renewable Material published at Polymer (MDPI) and “Towards Sustainable Solutions: Recent Advances in Polyphenol-Based Biomaterials” published at Molecules (MDPI). He currently reviews several scientific top journals such as Langmuir, Soft Matter, PLOSone, Cellulose, Carbohydrate Polymers, European Polymer Science, Nanoscale, etc. BM is the Principal Investigator of the awarded projects “FibraCel” (PTDC/AGR-TEC/4049/2012), “FibraCel2” (PTDC/AGRTEC/4814/2014) and “ReFloRest” (PTDC/ASP-SIL/30619/2017) with a total funding of ca. ¿600000. From 2014 until 2018, BM has represented UAlg as an associated partner of the “Biopolymer Based Food Delivery Systems-BIBAFOODS” project, an Initial Training Network funded by the FP7-PEOPLE-2013 programme where he was involved in the co-supervison of a PhD student. The collaboration with Portuguese companies is also a priority in the scope of technology transference; BM was recently a research member of: Projecto em co-promoção C-TEC “Framing Technical Components in Polymer Matrix Composites Reinforced with Cellulose”. BM has been involved in the supervision of 3 diploma thesis, 8 master thesis and 4 PhD thesis. BM has been the adviser of 3 postdoctoral fellows. From 2004 to 2010, BM has collaborated in the teaching of Colloidal Chemistry I and II and Chemistry of Materials at Coimbra University. Since 2021, BM teaches the curriculum unit Scientific Methodology and Introduction to the Laboratory, biochemistry course, 1st year. BM has ca. 50 oral and poster communications in international conferences and has been invited to be a member in 8 PhD evaluation committees at the Universities of Coimbra, Porto and Aveiro (Portugal), Lorraine (France) and Alcalá (Spain). Since 2019, BM is Visiting Professor at the Surface and Colloid Engineering group at FSCN in Mid Sweden University, Sweden.
Email: bfmedronho@ualg.pt
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0972-1739
SCOPUS: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=9940656700
Sandra Gonçalves
Sandra Gonçalves graduated in Agronomic Engineering from the University of Algarve in 2002 and completed the PhD in Biology (Biotechnology) in the same institution. Presently she is an assistant professor at Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, and member of the Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development (MED/UAlg) and Global Change and Sustainability Institute (CHANGE). Key research topics focused on plant tissue culture, on the exploitation of plant biodiversity as a source of bioactive molecules with industrial interest, on the application of biotechnological techniques for plant biomass production and manipulation, and on the evaluation of plant response to abiotic conditions. She published 17 book chapters by invitation, more than 70 scientific papers, and many other publications. She has been involved in teaching activities, mainly in Agronomy (Plant Science) and Plant Biotechnology areas, in advanced training (BSc/MSc/PhD) and in outreach activities.
Email: smgoncalves@ualg.pt
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3038-4434
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=8583003200
Hugo Duarte
Hugo Duarte (HD) graduated in Bioengineering from the University of Algarve (UAlg) in 2014. After that, he worked for almost two years as a fellow researcher on the projects “FibraCel” (PTDC/AGR-TEC/4049/2012) and “FibraCel 2” (PTDC/AGRTEC/4814/2014), spending 3 months in Lund University at the Division of Physical Chemistry. Throughout this time, HD worked in biopolymer manipulation, mainly with cellulose. In 2017, HD started his PhD by joining an international consortium made from more than 10 universities and several companies, the Bioclean project (DOI: 10.3030/722871), where Procter & Gamble (P&G) was the project coordinator. The proposed work was within an International Training Network (ITN) from a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action. The PhD work was focused on characterizing and identifying structural changes on bacteria caused by surface active molecules, taking place in the Center for Colloid and Surface Science (CSGI) in the Chemistry department of the University of Florence, in Italy. Within the project´s framework, HD spent 6 months at the P&G innovation centre in Newcastle (UK), visiting The European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) with the acceptance of a beamtime proposal. A few months upon finishing the PhD, HD returned to UAlg joining the ReFloRest project as a post-doc Junior researcher, developing new value-added biomaterials from forestry residues. Since 2021, HD has taught several classes in UAlg and is an integrated member of Instituto Mediterrâneo para a Agricultura, Ambiente e Desenvolvimento (MED). MED is one of the three R&D unites that integrate the associate laboratory CHANGE – Global Change and Sustainability Institute.
Email: uc49907@uc.pt
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6461-3541
SCOPUS: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57213446314
Anabela Romano
Anabela Romano, full professor of Biotechnology at the University of Algarve, graduated in Biology in 1989 and got her Ph.D. in Biology (Plant Biotechnology) in 1994 (Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon). She joined the University of Algarve in 1995 and has since been responsible for the Plant Biotechnology Laboratory. Since2014, she led the process of creating the Research Center for Biological Resources and Mediterranean Food(MeditBio-R&D Unit FCT No. 4325). She was part of the management of the center since its creation, was responsible for the Plant Bioresources group and coordinated the center from 2017 to December 2019. She is currently part of the research center MED (Mediterranean Institute of Agriculture, Environment and Development) and Associate Laboratory CHANGE – Global Change and Sustainability Institute, and the coordinator of the MED/UAlg (a Management Unit with financial autonomy). Since 2021 she is the director of the Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering (FCT/UAlg). She is the PI of several completed and ongoing projects, collaborates with several institutions, and participates in courses and conferences, both national and international. She was Vice-Rector of the University of Algarve, a member of the General Council of the University of Algarve, of the Academic Senate, and of the Scientific Council of the Faculty of Science and Technology. By appointment of the rector, she has been part of several committees, including the Ethics Committee of the University of Algarve, the Executive Committee for the organization of the 40th anniversary of the University of Algarve, and the Working Group within the scope of the Mediterranean Diet. She was appointed by the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education to the International High-Level Panelfor the selection and monitoring of the programs «Impulso Jovens STEAM» and «Impulso Jovens», within the scope of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). She is a member of the External Assessment Commission of the A3ES (Agency of Higher Education Assessment and Accreditation) and a member of the External Assessment Commission for the Institutional Evaluation of ARES (Higher Education Regulatory Agency from Cabo Verde).
Email: aromano@ualg.pt
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7204-7428
SCOPUS: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56249997600
Marta Laranjo
Microbiologist and Molecular Biologist, PhD in Biology, 2007. Senior Researcher, Universidade de Évora, Portugal, MED- Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development. Executive Director of the UNIMED Subnetwork on Food & Water (UNIMED Office at the Universidade de Évora). PI of the FoSaMed-“Enhancing Food Safety in the Mediterranean” ERASMUS+ project and of the “SCREAM-R: Screening Antimicrobial Resistance” exploratory project financed by the MED-Research Centre. h-index=23, 15 book chapters, more than 60 full research papers in international peer-review journals. Supervision of 3 PhD, 5 Masters, and more than 30 undergraduate students. An active researcher in microbiology and molecular microbiology and a teacher of Microbiology.
Email: mlaranjo@uevora.pt
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3900-5592
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=7801545833
Miguel Elias
Miguel Nuno Geraldo Viegas dos Santos Elias. Completed the Doutoramento in Engenharia Alimentar in 2005 by Universidade de Évora, Mestrado in Ciência e Tecnologia dos Alimentos in 1994 by Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior de Agronomia and Licenciatura in Engenharia Zootécnica in 1989 by Universidade de Évora. Is Associate Professor in Universidade de Évora, Pro-Rector in Universidade de Évora and Manager of Laboratory, Institute, Museum, Centre or Observatory in Universidade de Évora. Published 36 articles in journals and 3 book chapters. Supervised 4 PhD thesis(es) e co-supervised 2. Co-supervised 1 MSc dissertation(s). Has received 1 awards and/or honors. Participates and/or participated as Principal investigator in 9 project(s) and Researcher in 5 project(s). Works in the area(s) of Agrarian Sciences with emphasis on Agrarian and Food Biotechnology.
Email: elias@uevora.pt
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0877-0101
SCOPUS: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=35086070100
Maria Eduarda Potes
Maria Eduarda Potes is Associate Professor of Sanitary Food Inspection and Microbiology at Univeristy of Évora (Master in Veterinary Medicine) and integrated membrer at MED – Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE. She graduated in Veterinary Medicine (DMV) (1979), posgraduated in Animal Production (MSci.) (1988) and PhD in Animal Health and Hygiene (2001). She began her professional carreer in Estação Zootécnica Nacional in Animal Nutrition. She is currently an active researcher in Food Microbiology and in Food Safety. Integrated member of MED. h index=10. Author of 3 book chapters, 20 full research papers in international peer-review journals and several other publications, posters and oral communications. Invited editor of 2 special issues in international scientific jornal and reviewer of several journals. Co-supervisor of 1 PhD thesis and Supervisor of 15 MSci. thesis and 9 pre-Bologna thesis.
Email: mep@uevora.pt
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3288-0869
SCOPUS: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56582099500
Ana Santos
Ana Cristina Pinto Agulheiro Santos. PhD in Agrarian Sciences (2002) by the University of Évora. Master in Plant Production (1990) by the University of Lisbon Graduation in Agronomy (1985) by the University of Évora. Her research areas are: Food Science; Post-Harvest; Sensory Analysis; Rheology; Horticulture. She was the founder and first director of the Laboratory of Technology and Post-harvest of the University of Évora. Her most relevant area of research work is quality evaluation, mainly texture and sensory evaluation of fruits and other food products and post-harvest methodologies. Researcher and integrated member of “MED – Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development”. Supervisor of several masters and PhD theses in Portugal and Spain. Has participated in several research projects, both national and international. Delegate of Portugal in COST Action FA-1104 “Sustainable production of high-quality cherries for the European market”. Committed to the community and to the development of her region, she has several publications in scientific journals and also in technical journals dedicated to dissemination and knowledge transfer to producers and stakeholders.
Email: acsantos@uevora.pt
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7442-6456
SCOPUS: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=35773123400
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