Research activities of the Agricultural Engineering Team mainly involve the identification and evaluation of alternative crop residue management practices, particularly those dealing with the utilization of rice straw for direct or indirect energy production through anaerobic digestion or gasification.
Evaluating the effects of agricultural mechanization (soil tillage, treatments, harvest) on the quality of rice and its by-products.
Studying innovative working chains for the optimal harvest and conservation of rice straw for energy production.
Evaluating rice straw pelletizing processes for thermal energy production.
Optimizing rice straw pre-treatment technologies for their use as a feedstock for anaerobic digestion plants.
Energetic valorization of rice straw through gasification.