First Defense of Thesis from Dual Doctoral Program in Agricultural, Agro-Environmental and Food Resources and Technologies between UMH and Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences (Poland)

The first defense of a doctoral thesis from the dual doctoral program between the Doctoral Program in Agricultural, Agro-Environmental and Food Resources and Technologies (ReTos-AAA) at the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) and The Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science at Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences (Poland) took place virtually on March 18, 2021. Dr. Ángel Carbonell Barrachina (UMH) and Dr. Aneta Wojdyło (Wrocław University; Department of Fruit, Vegetable and Plant Nutraceutical Technology) served as doctoral thesis co-advisors.

Newly conferred PhD, Marina Cano Lamadrid, is author of the thesis entitled “Research, Development and Innovation of Hydrosustainable products based on pomegranate.” This dual program enabled Ms. Lamadrid to collaborate with two prestigious research groups and to enhance her expertise, not only scientific, but also social and linguistic, made possible by the stays she completed at both institutions during the course of the program.

Moreover, this is the first obvious result from this dual doctoral program, which highlights the needs for internationalization and collaboration between research groups at different European universities.

As for the doctoral thesis, it can be said that water scarcity and droughts are increasingly frequent and widespread phenomena that affect upwards of 100 million people and about a third of European territory. Climate change is expected to worsen this situation, especially in Mediterranean countries such as Spain. Therefore, assisting agriculture to lessen its thirst for water with different crops through deficit irrigation strategies could help to mitigate global climate change. These agricultural products are the results from optimizing the use of water, and are characterized by a high contents of bioactive compounds, a high sensory quality, and a clear marked identity that will differentiate them from the rest in their category. The products obtained under such sustainable conditions, without affecting the quality of their yields, and even increasing their healthy properties, are called “hydrosustainable.” Developing and improving products based on pomegranates, such as dehydrated arils and smoothies, which were developed in this graduate work, influence the popularity of these fruits, even in groups who consume small amounts of them, such as adolescents and children. Demand for these products would increase, and ultimately result in greater benefits for differentiated quality figures of the European Union, for farmers, and also for the industry, thereby protecting the authenticity and agro-environmental conditions.

Dual doctoral programs

Participation in a dual doctoral program requires joint advising of the doctoral thesis by an academic official from each participating institution.

Likewise, these programs also require the completion of a stay by the doctoral candidate at the institution with which the agreement has been signed for at least 9 months, either all at once or during different periods. Students interested in participating in dual doctoral programs must be admitted in the corresponding programs at both institutions.

These actions advance the following Sustainable Development Goals:

4. Quality Education

11. Sustainable Cities and Communities

13. Climate Action

15. Life on Land