Luca Fontanesi

Luca Fontanesi is a Full Professor at the University of Bologna's Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Technologies. His research focuses on genetics, animal genomics, and food authentication, with applications in livestock improvement, environmental DNA analysis, and metagenomics/metabolomics. He leads projects on pig, cattle, and bee genomics, including EU-funded initiatives like the COST Action EU-LI-PHE and the Re-Livestock project. Fontanesi has authored over 280 publications (h-index 43), co-edits journals in animal production, and is ranked in the World's Top 2% Scientists (2024, Stanford).

Education: PhD in Zootechnical Sciences (1997, University of Milan), with postdoctoral research at the University of Minnesota. Career highlights include roles as Delegate for Competitive Research Projects at the University of Bologna and coordinator of strategic projects like FAGenomicH and Selmol.

Research Interests: Integrating genomics, phenomics, and environmental DNA for food traceability, conservation of local breeds (e.g., Nero d’Aspromonte pigs, Reggiana cattle), and bee population genetics. Key areas include virome analysis in livestock, metabolomic profiling of pigs, and legislative compliance in apiculture.

Awards & Recognition: Sector editor of animal production journals, featured in Stanford's Top 2% Scientists list, and contributor to international genomic consortia like LaGomiCs (Lagomorph Genomics).

Grants & Collaborations: Participated in >40 research projects, including 9 European initiatives (Horizon 2020/Europe). Coordinated projects like Innovagen (2011–2015) and the BEE-RER project on genomics in beekeeping.