BrainMap

Ailin P. MOLOȘAG

Research Scientist

Research Scientist, Laboratory for Breeding and Genetic Resource - STATIUNEA DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU POMICULTURA BANEASA

Other affiliations

PhD student in Horticulture - UNIVERSITATEA DE STIINTE AGRONOMICE SI MEDICINA VETERINARA (Romania)

Researcher | PhD student

I am a PhD student in Horticulture and a Research Scientist at the Laboratory for Breeding and Genetic Resources, RSFG Băneasa, Bucharest. I hold a degree in Horticultural Engineering and a Master’s in Biodiversity Conservation Management. My main research interests are plant breeding, especially thermophilic stone fruits, and the use of sustainable inputs in horticultural systems. I have been involved in research teams at the Research Centre for Studies of Food and Agricultural Products Quality (USAMV Bucharest), where I contributed to projects such as MARIGREEN and ClimaGreen (2021–2024), focused on sustainable plant production. Currently, my doctoral thesis explores the effects of aquatic-origin fertilizers and composts on the growth of strawberry and lettuce plants, with an emphasis on organic, circular bioresources. I am passionate about applied plant improvement and sustainable agriculture.

Web of Science ResearcherID: NZO-4575-2025

Expertise & keywords

Sustainable utilization of MARIne resources to foster GREEN plant production in Europe Call name: P 3 - SP 3.2 - Proiecte ERA.NET
ERANET-BLUEBIO-MARIGREEN 2021 - 2024

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA NAŢIONALĂ DE ŞTIINŢĂ ŞI TEHNOLOGIE POLITEHNICA BUCUREŞTI (RO); UNIVERSITATEA DE STIINTE AGRONOMICE SI MEDICINA VETERINARA (RO); Norwegian Centre for Organic Agriculture (NO); Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (GR); National Institute of Aquatic Resources (DK); University of Copenhagen (DK); Norwegian Research Centre (NO); ALUMICHEM A/S (DK); Fjordlaks AS (NO); Algea AS (NO); Sigurd Folland AS (NO); Snadder & Snaskum AS (NO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA DE STIINTE AGRONOMICE SI MEDICINA VETERINARA (RO)

Project website: https://marigreen.chimie.upb.ro/

Abstract:

The MARIGREEN project aims at valorising residual materials from the BLUE sector, many of them being currently poorly utilised, by treating with appropriate technologies and applying in GREEN agriculture. Significant amounts of fertilisers applicable in organic growing are required to achieve 25% organic farmland in EU by 2030, as proposed in the F2F strategy. Residual materials available from fish capture, brown algae industry, mussel industry, and organic aquaculture, provided by five Scandinavian industry partners, will be studied within the project. The materials will be chemically characterised and compounds with potential biostimulant effects on crop plants will be investigated, while concurrently checking for possible biotoxicity. The effects of these materials (untreated or treated using appropriate treatments, e.g., extraction, composting) on plant growth will be assessed. The project also includes an innovative treatment of organic fish waste from aquaculture and a study on biochar impregnation technology. Biochar, which is itself useful for soil amendment, will be used, after impregnation with extracts of BLUE materials, as a carrier of nutrients and other valuable compounds in agricultural soil. The most suitable materials (selected after chemical characterization) will be tested in real growing conditions in the greenhouse and field. The logistics and related costs required to establish a relevant value chain for producing fertilisers and/or biostimulants will be assessed by interviewing collaborating industry partners and surveying potential customers. The project will mobilize human resources across national borders to promote the skills and competencies of researchers and to create coherent dissemination actions delineating the conditions, interests, and potential opportunities in the BLUE and GREEN sectors.

Energy-efficient climate control of a greenhouse for increased productivity Call name: EEA Grants - Proiecte Colaborative de Cercetare
RO-NO-2019-0420 2021 - 2024

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA DE STIINTE AGRONOMICE SI MEDICINA VETERINARA

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA DE STIINTE AGRONOMICE SI MEDICINA VETERINARA (RO); SINTEF Energy Research (NO); Gether AS (NO)

Affiliation:

Project website: https://www.climagreen.eu/

Abstract:

ClimaGreen is a multidisciplinary research project between the Research Centre for Studies of Food and Agricultural Products Quality at the University of Agronomic Science and Veterinary Medicine (USAMV) in Bucharest, the research institute SINTEF Energy Research in Trondheim/Norway and the SME Gether AS in Oslo/Norway.

ClimaGreen will investigate by proof-of-concept how the productivity of a greenhouses situated in Romania can be increased several times through optimized climatic indoor conditions, integration of sustainable energy supply by means of a heat pump and seasonal thermal energy storage. The aim is to control and optimise the growing conditions for agricultural products, to minimise the energy usage and reduce climate gas emissions. ClimaGreen will contribute to a more energy-efficient and environment-friendly operation of greenhouses in general, while at the same time enhancing the overall productivity by increased growth of greenhouse plants and vegetables for sites in Romania. An integrated part of the work will be to investigate seasonal thermal energy storage of the summer excess heat.

The research work will focus on identifying the energy savings potential of a greenhouse by replacing the currently used fossil-fuelled gas boiler by heat pumps solutions. The heat pumps can simultaneously provide both heating and cooling to the greenhouse operation. In addition to minimising primary energy demand, an integrated heat pump has therefore the potential for optimising the climatic conditions of the greenhouse by means of temperature and humidity control. Improved climatic conditions for growth of plants and vegetables will contribute to enhanced overall greenhouse efficiency and productivity.

A further part of the project will investigate the applicability of seasonal thermal storage. The excess heat from summertime can be stored in e.g. a borehole in order to heat the greenhouse during winter conditions. Such a system will potentially increase the production period for Romanian greenhouses by several months.

The strategic partnership between USAMV and SINTEF is a good opportunity for exchange of PhD and master students for training in an environment of high scientific quality.

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects