Guilherme, center, met Italian researchers at the universities of Catania and Turin

José Guilherme Prado Martin, advisor to the Graduate Program in Agricultural Microbiology (PPGMBA), was part of a mission of professors and researchers from the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV) to Italy in the second week of October. The group of representatives from five PPGs, as well as the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research Raul Narciso Guedes, traveled through the Capes-Print program, with the aim of visiting local universities to prospect and/or strengthen working partnerships between Italian researchers and various departments and programs at UFV.

Between October 5 and 12, the group visited the universities of Catania and Turin, two of UFV’s main partners in Europe. “The trip was very fruitful, both institutions were interested in partnerships, especially Catania, which already has a double degree doctorate program with UFV. It’s an established partnership, but they were open and interested in extending this work to research in different areas,” says Guilherme.

In Catania, the delegation of professors was introduced to the local academic community, and they discussed ongoing joint initiatives and new partnership possibilities. “I believe that our students can benefit from going there and carrying out part of their research in the institution’s research laboratories. Catania has a strong research group that works especially in the area of fermentation, in studies of microorganisms and fermented beverages, and this is a very interesting partnership opportunity for us,” adds the professor, who after the trip has already started contacting Italian researchers to work out the details of the partnership.

Also in Catania, the Brazilian professors visited the Consorzio per la Ricerca nel settore della Filiera Lattiero-Casearia e dell’agroalimentare (CoRFiLaC), a local research institute specializing in dairy products. “That was very nice too, and then we visited a cheese producing farm, which was very interesting so that we could discuss methodologies and make comparisons with Brazilian farms, since there are many similarities in many aspects.”

In the second half of the trip, at the University of Turin, the researchers were welcomed by the local coordinators at the rectory building in the city’s historic center. The UFV delegation also had the opportunity to present themselves at various meetings which involved discussing opportunities at both institutions. The following day, the Brazilians went to the university’s Veterinary Department for another round of meetings with various groups from the unit, including Basic Science, Veterinary Clinic and Surgery, Animal Production, and Food Safety and Quality. “The two universities offer our students very interesting prospects also because the culture is similar to that of Brazilians – they are receptive, warm, and that sounds very familiar to us. Cultural adaptation is much easier than in other countries, the climate is also very pleasant, which enhances our chances of success.”