Sustainable Management of Agro-Food Waste Fundamental Aspects and Practical Applications

Dr. Shalini Rai Ph.D. (Microbiology) is working as assistant professor at the Society of Higher Education and Practical Application (SHEPA) (Affiliated from M.G.K.V University), Uttar Pradesh, India. She was awarded a senior research fellowship from the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), India. She has engaged in various research activities on soil microbiology, plant-microbe interactions, plant disease management, enzymology, biocontrol, molecular biology and microbial diagnostics, and has published several book chapters, review articles and research papers in prominent international journals. She has six years of teaching experience. For significant achievements in the field of disease management, she has been awarded a patent for identification of phytopathogen from any source.

Dr. Abhishek Kumar Bhardwaj is working as an Assistant Professor at Amity School of Life Sciences, Department of Environmental Science, Amity University, India. He obtained his PhD from the Central University of Allahabad, Prayagraj, India, in the field of environmental nanotechnology. He has also done Post-doctoral research at the Department of Environmental Science, VBS Purvanchal University, Jaunpur (India). Currently, He is actively involved in the teaching and guidance of undergraduate, MSc, and PhD students. Dr. Bhardwaj's research interests encompass a wide array of topics, including green synthesis of nanomaterials for water purification, bio-sensing, nano-based device fabrication, water treatment, diatom cultivation, mushroom cultivation, phytoremediation, and waste management. His contributions to the field are well-recognized, as he has published over 30 research papers in prestigious journals, including Elsevier, Springer, American Chemical Society, American Institute of Physics, MDPI, and Frontier, among others. Furthermore, Dr. Bhardwaj serves as a respected reviewer for esteemed journals such as Journals of Cleaner Production, Journals of Environmental Pollution, Bioresource Technology, Journals of Nanoparticle Research, Scientific Reports, and more. He has also edited two books in collaboration with Elsevier and Springer. His dedication to academia and research has made him a valuable asset to the scientific community and a significant influence in the field of environmental science and nanotechnology.

Dr. Luciane Colla is working as Titular Professor at University of Passo Fundo, School of Agricultural Sciences, Inovation and Business, Brazil. She is Food Engineer from the Federal University of Rio Grande (1999), Master's (2002) and Ph.D. (2009) in Food Science and Engineering from the same university. Main research topics in: microalgae cultivation to obtain bioproducts and for environmental applications, especially in the production of third-generation biofuels; submerged and solid-state fermentation; production of biosurfactants and lipases and bioremediation of oily residues in soils. He works at the post-graduation programs (PPG) in Civil and Environmental Engineering (grade 5), PPG in Food Science and Technology (4) and PPG in Agronomy (4) at UPF as a master's and doctoral advisor. She is a researcher of CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development).