Beverages Webinar | Probiotic and Functional Beverages: Packaging, Stability, and Bio-Fortification Strategies
the chairs
Are you interested in the technological and formulation challenges involved in developing effective probiotic beverages? If so, join us for the webinar titled “Probiotic and Functional Beverages: Packaging, Stability, and Bio-Fortification Strategies”. This event is designed for food scientists, microbiologists, researchers, product developers, packaging specialists, and professionals in the food and beverage industry, as well as anyone interested in advancing probiotic beverage technology.
The webinar will highlight recent research and technological solutions aimed at improving the quality, stability, and functionality of probiotic beverages. Topics will include innovative packaging approaches for food and beverages, nutritional support of lactic acid bacteria through the valorization of wine lees, strategies to enhance probiotic viability during storage and gastrointestinal transit, and probiotic bio-fortification techniques for beverage applications.
This webinar provides a valuable opportunity to explore cutting-edge approaches that address key bottlenecks in probiotic beverage development, from sustainable ingredient sourcing to product stability and functionality. Join us to gain insights into emerging technologies and future directions shaping the next generation of probiotic beverages.
Date: 23 March 2026
Time: 1:00 pm CET| 8:00 pm CST Asia
Webinar ID: 817 4139 2655
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Meet the Event Chairs
Meet Our Speakers
Dr. Poonam Nigam
Ulster University, United Kingdom;
Dr Poonam Singh Nigam is a distinguished academic and researcher at Ulster University, UK, where she has been contributing to teaching and research since 1990. She has served as Director of Postgraduate Programs in Biotechnology (Research) and led a Transnational Education Dual-degree Program in Food Biotechnology in collaboration with two European universities for over 15 years. A Chartered Biologist and Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology UK, she was conferred the prestigious Distinguished Scientist 2025 and Fellow 2014 awards by the International Forum on Industrial Bioprocesses, Doctor of Science (DSc) in Microbial Biotechnology by a UK University in recognition of her outstanding research contributions. Dr Nigam’s expertise spans Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, with remarkable research impact reflected in over 45,067 citations, an h-index of 78, and an i10-index of 204. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy UK and a Fellow of the Centre for Higher Education Research and Practice UK, the Academy of Microbiological Sciences India, and the Biotechnology Research Society of India. She was also awarded a bursary by the Association of Commonwealth Universities to represent the UK at the British Council’s Going Global event in Kuala Lumpur and visit leading universities across Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
Dr. Evangelos Kokkinomagoulos
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece;
Dr. Evangelos Kokkinomagoulos is a senior researcher at the Department of Food Science and Technology, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He holds a PhD degree from the same department, with doctoral research focused on the utilization of vitivinicultural by-products. His work centers on sustainable food bioprocessing, the valorization of agro-industrial by-products, and innovation in oenological and food fermentation technologies. Through his research, he explores how food and beverage by-products can be transformed into value-added, functional ingredients within a circular economy framework.
Ms. Eleni Sakantani
Ionian University, Greece;
Mrs. Eleni Sakantani is Special Technical Laboratory Staff at the Department of Food Science & Technology of the Ionian University. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Technologies from TEI Messolonghi and an MSc in Food, Nutrition and Microbiome from the Democritus University of Thrace, and she is currently a PhD candidate at Ionian University. Prior to her current appointment, she worked as an agronomist technologist at the Directorate of Rural Development of Kefalonia & Ithaca and at the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Kefalonia & Ithaca and served as a laboratory associate at the TEI of Epirus and the TEI of the Ionian Islands. Her research interests focus on the technology and quality of foods of animal origin. She has authored peer-reviewed publications and has participated in numerous international and national scientific conferences. She has contributed to several research projects as a member of research teams in the field of food science and technology.
Dr. Anastasios Nikolaou
Democritus University of Thrace, Greece.;
Dr. Anastasios Nikolaou is currently an Appointed Lecturer and a Post-doctoral Researcher at the Democritus University of Thrace (Greece). He holds a Degree in Molecular Biology & Genetics (2011), a Master of Science Degree in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (2013) and a PhD in Food Biotechnology (2019). He has authored 35 papers in peer-reviewed journals, 1 book chapter, and has published >35 abstracts in international conference proceedings. He has been awarded 4 research scholarships and has participated, as a research associate, in 15 research projects [funded from EU, National Grants (Generally Secretary of Research and Technology, Greece) and the Food/Agriculture Industry]. His research interests include (among others): Food Microbiology, Applied & Molecular Microbiology, Functional Foods, and High-added-value Products.
Sponsors and Partners
Organizer
Dr. Panagiotis Kandylis: “The webinar provided an overview of recent advancements in probiotic and functional beverages, focusing on strategies to enhance stability, functionality, and sustainability. It highlighted innovative approaches to improve probiotic viability during storage and gastrointestinal transit, as well as the use of food industry by-products to support microbial growth and bio-fortification. Packaging solutions and technological developments were also discussed as key factors in product quality and shelf life. Contributions from Dr. Poonam Nigam, Dr. Evangelos Kokkinomagoulos, Mrs Eleni Sakadani, and Dr. Anastasios Nikolaou fostered scientific exchange and highlighted future directions in the field.”
The webinar was hosted via Zoom and required registration to attend. The full recording can be found below. In order to learn about future webinars, you can sign up to our newsletter by clicking “Subscribe” at the top of the page.
Special Issue Editors: Dr. Panagiotis Kandylis and Dr. Dimitra Dimitrellou
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026