Dr. Manuela Vaz Velho is a Coordinator Professor at the Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo (IPVC) and a Director of the Center for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability (CISAS-IPVC). She has a bachelor's degree in Aquatic Sciences, a master’s degree in Food Studies Post-Harvest Technology, and a Ph.D. degree in Food Science and Engineering. She has participated in 18 International and 22 national R&DT projects and evaluated 17 EU project proposals (ERA and COST). With more than 100 papers published in international and national peer-reviewed journals, she is also a co-author of 40 books and 14 book chapters and a reviewer of more than 30 international scientific journals and has given about 300 presentations at various national and international congresses. She is a member of the group “Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy” of the Horizon 2020 Programme Committee, and a member of CEN/TC 454 of Instituto Português da Qualidade (IPQ) and the CEN European Committee for Standardization. Her current research areas of interest include the development of new food products and the valorization of poorly exploited food sources, waste, and by-products.