International Conference: Co-Products
August 28, 2025
Dr. Giovanna M. Aita, adjunct professor and former PhD graduate of the LSU School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, participated in the nternational Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (ISSCT) Pre-Congress and XXXII Centennial Congress held in Cali, Colombia, from August 21–28. The ISSCT is a global organization of scientists, technologists, managers, institutions, and companies committed to advancing the cane sugar industry and its co-products.
As Chair of the Co-Products Section, Dr. Aita presented her research titled “Polyphenols-Derived Nanoparticles: Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Properties.” A microbiologist by training, she is leading efforts to replace petroleum-based fuels and chemicals with sustainable alternatives derived from biomass. Her work addresses both technical and economic challenges, with a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability.
Dr. Aita has pioneered the bioconversion of agricultural and woody residues, as well as low-value process by-products, into platform chemicals, nutritional supplements, and antimicrobial biomaterials. Her areas of expertise include biomass pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, antimicrobials, and nanomaterials.
