Dr. Gaetano Cardone is a Researcher at the R&D Centre of Dr. Schär, specializing in food innovation, functional ingredients, and gluten-free technologies. He earned his PhD in Food Systems from the University of Milan, where his doctoral work focused on sprouting as a biotechnological tool to enhance the functional and nutritional properties of cereals and pseudocereals. His academic journey also includes research traineeships at BOKU University and previous fellowships at the University of Milan, which laid the foundation for his expertise in cereal science, fermentation, and the valorization of agri-food by-products. Dr. Cardone is the author of more than 15 peer-reviewed articles in leading international journals (including Antioxidants, Food Research International, LWT, and Cereal Chemistry), as well as book chapters with CRC Press and Wiley. Among his most recent contributions, he co-authored a 2025 study in Antioxidants demonstrating how innovative gluten-free flatbreads enriched with grape and apple by-products can beneficially modulate the gut microbiota of individuals with metabolic syndrome, highlighting their potential as functional foods for metabolic health. He has presented his research at major international conferences, earning multiple recognitions such as the EYCSTW Gold and Silver Awards and the AACCI Student Travel Award. In 2021, he also won second place at the Product Development Competition (Cereals & Grains) for the innovative SUN-RICE concept.