The project titled "Technology for the valorisation of bioactive components from grape seed waste with usefulness in the food, pharmaceutical, plant protection and environmental protection industries", with its proposed objectives, is part of the worldwide efforts to valorise the waste resulting from the food industry and to reduce their negative impact on the environment and health. The project falls within the field 5. Agriculture, Food Security and Food Safety, within the PNCDI II, under the themes 5.1.2. Modernisation of food production and production of products in line with the principles of sustainable development and food security and 5.1.6.

The research theme will valorise the bioactive components of grape seed waste, namely grape seed oil, proanthocyanidin phenolic compounds that will serve as a substrate for obtaining the first natural fungicide product from grape seeds in the country, which will be used in the biological control of the fungus Botrytis cinerea. The plant residue resulting from the extractive processes of the oil and phenolic compounds is non-toxic and will be readily biodegradable in the soil, having the qualities of a natural organic fertiliser. The use of grape seeds, which represent 38-48 % of the dried tescovine, will reduce the amount of waste on the storage platforms of the plants and thus minimise the polluting effects on the environment. The three products will be obtained successively in the experimental model of the bioactive components valorisation technology proposed by the project.

The proposed objectives and the activities foreseen in the work packages show the multisectoral, inter- and multidisciplinary character, a high degree of complexity to which is added the novelty and originality. The novelty lies in the grape seed processing technology, according to the proposed experimental model, which, through a sequence of operations, makes it possible to obtain two functional biologically active products and a fertilising plant residue with practical application and potential for exploitation. The novelty also stems from the fact that, for the first time in the country, a natural fungicidal bioproduct has been obtained from a natural source, proanthocyanidin phenolic compounds from grape seeds. The innovative nature of the proposed technical solutions for the process of extracting the oil, water-insoluble phenolic proanthocyanidin compounds and fractionating them to obtain the biologically active, water-soluble natural biological bioproduct, which is a prerequisite for its practical use.

The economic effect of the results to be obtained is the realisation of financial income through the use of a waste that is currently not valorised, the reduction of maintenance costs of vineyards by replacing polluting chemicals with a new, natural, non-polluting indigenous product, the provision of grape seed oil on the market at a lower price and replacing its import. The improvement of the quality of life and health will be realised by the appearance on the market of indigenous natural products.

For the realisation of the objectives of the proposed project, three research institutions and a large wine-growing company (SC Cotnari SA Iași) have been co-opted as co-funders. The consortium partners, in addition to qualified personnel in different research fields (chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, cell biology, plant protection, viticulture, winemaking), also have a specific research infrastructure to obtain the expected results. Taking over the technology and producing the entire process on a large scale is a prerequisite for creating new jobs.