Cinzia Caggia

Cinzia Caggia is Full Professor of Agricultural Microbiology at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A) of the University of Catania since 2018 and President of CoRFiLaC (Consortium for Research in the Dairy and Agri-food Supply Chain Sector) since April 2023. With over two decades of academic experience, she leads significant research initiatives in food microbiology and supervises doctoral candidates through international collaborations.

Her research focuses on the microbiology of fermented foods, with particular expertise in lactic acid bacteria, acetic acid bacteria, and yeasts in traditional food matrices like cheese, table olives, sourdough, and wine. She investigates microbial safety, probiotic properties, antibiotic resistance mechanisms in pathogens, and the valorization of agro-food by-products. Her work bridges fundamental microbiology with practical applications for developing functional foods and enhancing food safety standards.

As an academic leader, Professor Caggia has supervised 13 doctoral theses and currently co-tutors doctoral students through international collaborations with the Federal University of Viçosa in Brazil. She has secured substantial funding through national projects (PRIN, PON), European programs (FESR), and industry partnerships with companies including Cr. Hansen A/S, BK Giulini GmbH, and numerous Italian firms.

• Scientific leadership roles include Vice-president of SIMTREA (2018-2021) and national coordinator of the Global Food Microbiology Teachers Network
• Editorial positions: Editor-in-Chief of SCIENCE AND TECHNIQUE LATTIERO-DAIRY (since 2019), and editorial board member for multiple international journals
• Organized major international conferences including the 5th International Conference on Microbial Diversity (2019)

Her laboratory work spans microbial characterization techniques, development of functional foods, and innovative approaches to food safety assessment, with practical applications across the dairy, olive, and meat industries.