FERRANTE VALENTINA

Education
1988 Doctor in Veterinary Medicine (DVM), State University of Milan (Italy)
2000 "Dottorato di Ricerca" (PhD level) in “Zoocolture: Igyene and Production” (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine – State University of Milan).

Licence to practice
1988 License to practice (Veterinary Medicine)

Professional activities
From 1990 to 2001 Technician at Istituto di Zootecnica Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, State University of Milan (Italy)
2001- 2017 Researcher at the same Institute (now Section of Animal Husbandry of the Department of Animal Science)
2017- 2021 Researcher at the Depatment of Environmental Science and Policy
2022 - Associate Professor at the Depatment of Environmental Science and Policy

Courses held at Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (State University of Milan)

2002- Organic Poultry Production
2008/2009 Applied ethology and Animal Welfare
Professor in a Master on Organic agriculture at the University of Florence
Professor in the Post graduated school on Ethology and Welfare of Domestic Animals

Associations
2001- Member of the World Poultry Science Association (WPSA)
2000- Member of the “Associazione Italiana di Zootecnia Biologica e Biodinamica (Zoo.Bio.Di)”
1990-2002 Member of the “Associazione Scientifica Italiana di Coniglicoltura (ASIC)”
1990- Member of the International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE)
2001- Member of the “Associazione Scientifica di Produzione Animale (ASPA)”

Offices held
2001- 2003 Member of a working-group of the Italian Agriculture Ministry on “Welfare and environment in organic production”.
2002- Member of the Working Group (n.9) “Poultry Production and Welfare” of the European Federation of the World Poultry Science Association (WPSA).
2000-Secretary of the Italian Association for Organic and Biodynamic Animal Production.
2000-2003 Member of the Council of the “Associazione Italiana di Coniglicoltura” (ASIC)
2003 – Member of the Reference Centre for Animal Welfare
2006 - Member of National Certification Committee of ICEA (Organic Certification Body).
2008 – Included in the Data Base Expert of EFSA
2008 – 2011 Responsible of Poultry in the experimental station in Lodi
2011 - Responsible for UNIMI in the Italian Technological Platform for Organic Agriculture (PTBio)
2013 - Member of the Steering Committee of the Italian Network for Organic Agriculture (RIRAB)
2013 - Coordinator of the Working Group "Organic Animal Production" of the Italian Network for Organic Agriculture (RIRAB)
2013 - Treasurer of RIRAB
2013 - Member of a committee of experts in organic farming established by MIPAAF - Decree n. 18180 June 12, 2013
2013 - Chairman of the working Group 9 Poultry Production and Welfare of the Word Poultry Science Association (WPSA)

SCIENTIFIC INTEREST

The scientific interests of Dr. Valentina FERRANTE, are based on the investigation of different aspects of livestock production system. This approach integrates knowledge about the characteristics of each animal, the aspects related to its environment and that related to its social interactions through analysis of the information derived from the various disciplines that focus on improving animal production.
Attention has been paid to the identification and development of appropriate methods for the welfare evaluation such is: physiological indicators (cortisol, ratio leucocyte/neutrophils), productive indicators (FCI, growing, body condition score) and behavioural (ethogram and reactivity test).
Due to her experience in the field she is involved in several international and national projects related to the topic of animal welfare evaluation:
PROJECT: "Sustaining Animal Health and Food Safety in Organic Farming" in the fifth framework program "Quality of life and management of living resources".
TIME: 2003-2006
RELEVANCE: INTERNATIONAL
ROLE: unit manager

PROJECT: Organic Livestock "Quality and Innovation in Organic Livestock" (E.QU.I.ZOO.BIO) TIME: 2005-2008
RELEVANCE: NATIONAL
ROLE: responsible of the WP dedicated to the welfare evaluation in ORGANIC cattle, pigs, sheep and poultry.

PROJECT: Welfare Quality® FPVI
TIME: 2004-2009
RELEVANCE: INTERNATIONAL
ROLE: co-responsible for a sub-task which aims was to develop welfare certification protocols for broilers

PROJECT: “Maintenance and improvement of organic agriculture in URUGUAY” founded by Fondazione CARIPLO.
TIME: 2010-2012
RELEVANCE: INTERNATIONAL
ROLE: scientific responsible

PROJECT: “Development, integration and dissemination of animal-based welfare indicators, including pain, in commercially important husbandry species, with special emphasis on small ruminants, equidae and turkeys” 7th FP
TIME: 2011-2015
RELEVANCE: INTERNATIONAL
ROLE: coordination of the international group on welfare evaluation protocols in Turkeys.

PROJECT: Standardization and improvement of the Brianzolo Chicken: a quality product of Lombardia Region
TIME: 2011-2014
ROLE: Scientific responsible
RELEVANCE: NATIONAL