We cordially invite you to the dissertation thesis defence of Kateřina Vihanová with the title “Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils and supercritical carbon dioxide extracts of Asian spices against food pathogens in liquid and vapour phase” (Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Tropical Agrobiology and Bioresource Management). Thesis defence will take place on 31st May 2024, 10 AM, meeting room 403 FTZ.

Foodborne microbial diseases present a significant public health concern necessitating the preservation of food products to extend their shelf life and ensure safety. An emerging method of food preservation involves the antimicrobial modified atmosphere packaging. Spices and condiments containing volatile oils hold promise for such applications. In this study, the in vitro growth-inhibitory activity of essential oils (EOs) and supercritical carbon dioxide extracts (CO2 extracts) obtained from spices originating from Asia was assayed using broth microdilution volatilisation method against bacterial food pathogens. Subsequently, chemical profiles of most potent samples were examined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) apparatus. The findings of the study suggest that EOs and CO2 extracts derived from Cinnamomum spp. hold promise as natural food preservatives in the food industry. In addition, the results of experiments with Cambodian species suggest the potential application of supercritical CO2 for their extraction in spice-processing practice.

The Project 'Through Biogas Technology to Increase the Resilience of Communities in the Western Province of Zambia' unlocks unlimited potential. In Zambia, the population is faced with the unavailability and scarcity of energy resources, and most people depend on unsustainable energy practices. The responsibility for collecting traditional resources (charcoal, firewood) is, in most cases, borne by women and girls who often cannot devote themselves to education and/or other self-realisation activities. 

Enhancement of the long-term sustainability of the collection and commercialisation of local medicinal and aromatic plants. In March 2024, representatives of the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, in collaboration with colleagues from Rhine-Waal University (Germany) and the University of Gastronomic Sciences