Dr. Barbara Franco Lucas

Profile

Dr. Barbara Franco Lucas Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin

  • Contact hours Monday
    Tuesday
    Wednesday
    Thursday
    Friday
  • Address Berner Fachhochschule
    School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL
    Fachbereich Food Science & Management
    Länggasse 85
    3052 Zollikofen

Activities

  • Researcher

  • Food scientist

  • Postdoctoral researcher

  • Journal reviewer: Future Foods; Applied Food Research; Journal of Agriculture and Food Research; Food Quality and Preference; International Journal Of Hospitality Management; Trends in Food Science & Technology; Algal Research; International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science; Journal of Applied Phycology; Journal of Functional Foods; LWT - Food Science and Technology; Journal of Food Process Engineering; Journal of Food Processing and Preservation (On-Line); Brazilian Journal of Food Technology; Future of Food: Journal on Food, Agriculture & Society

Teaching

  • Bachelor’s degree: Biochemical Engineering

  • Bachelor’s degree: Food Engineering

  • Technical courses

  • Consumer behaviour

  • International Food Business: Doing Business with Brazil

  • Management of Industrial processes

  • Good Manufacturing Practices

  • Microbiology

  • Biochemical Engineering

  • Meat Technology and Derivatives

  • Ethics

  • Principles of Unit Operations of the Food Industry

  • Packaging Technology

  • Undergraduate final Project

Research

  • consumer behaviour

  • surveys

  • food science

  • microalgae

  • extrusion

  • sustainable food consumption

CV

  • I have an undergraduate degree in food engineering (2008–2013), a Master’s (2015–2017) and PhD (2017–2021) in engineering and food science, with more than 10 years of experience in food science and technology. I have a background in novel food development, sensory and physicochemical evaluations, bioactive compounds analysis, extrusion processes and consumer studies. I have published articles in high-impact journals and provided expert advice to several food manufacturers. I also have experience as a quality supervisor in a poultry slaughterhouse and as a quality and laboratory head at a soybean crushing plant. Furthermore, I have been involved in several activities to promote public engagement in science, besides being a reviewer for several scientific journals (e.g.: Food Quality and Preference, Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, LWT-Food Science and Technology, Journal of Applied Phycology and Journal of Functional Foods). During one year (2022-2023) I worked as a Postdoc Researcher at the Bern University of Applied Sciences, with a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship. Currently, I am a scientific collaborator at the same institution.
  • 09/2023 – Current Senior Researcher Bern University of Applied Sciences
  • 09/2022 – 08/2023 Postdoctoral Researcher Bern University of Applied Sciences
  • 11/2021 – 08/2022 Laboratory head / Quality Manager Louis Dreyfus Company
  • 03/2015 – 10/2021 Researcher Federal University of Rio Grande
  • 12/2013 – 12/2014 Quality Supervisor JBS
  • 08/2013 – 02/2014 Instructor/Lecturer National Industrial Apprenticeship Service - SENAI
  • 2017 – 2021 PhD in Food Science and Engineering Federal University of Rio Grande
  • 2016 – 2018 Specialization in Food Science Federal University of Pelotas
  • 2015 – 2017 Master’s Degree in Food Science and Engineering Federal University of Rio Grande
  • 2008 – 2013 Bachelor’s Degree in Food Engineering Federal University of Grande Dourados
  • Complementary studies: Project Risk Management (1h), Cultivated meat: opportunities and challenges (8h), Nanobiotechnology and Bioengineering (40h), Cultivated meat: trends and benefits for food systems (8h), Innovation in the Food Industry (2h), Bioactive Compounds and Functional Foods (2h), Strategies in applied Algal Biotechnology (2h).

Projects

  • 09/2022 – 08/2023: Microalgae as an alternative protein and a sustainable option to improve nutrition worldwide: Swiss consumer perceptions and attitudes.

  • 03/2017 – 10/2021: Centres of Technological Vocation (CVTs) of the Agrobiodiversities Bailique - Rio Grande.

  • 09/2017 – 11/2018: Tutorial Working Group on Biochemical Engineering (GTTEB).

  • 03/2015 – 10/2021: Microalgae culture in Brazil: Food Security, Sustainable Development and Alternative Work.

  • 03/2024 – 10/2024: Bentomo circular

  • 2024 – 2027: HORIZON EUROPE: SUSTAIN-A-BITE (BFH)

Publications

  • SNACK ENRIQUECIDO COM Spirulina E/OU OUTRA(S) CIANOBACTÉRIA(S) E/OU OUTRA(S) MICROALGA(S), 2017. Category: Product. Institution where it was deposited: INPI - National Institute of Industrial Property. Country: Brazil. Type: Patent of Invention. Number of the registration: BR1020170137899. Date of deposit: 26/06/2017. Inventors: Jorge Alberto Vieira Costa Bárbara Franco Lucas, Michele Greque de Morais, Thaisa Duarte Santos. Depositor/Owner: Federal University of Rio Grande.

  • LUCAS, BÁRBARA FRANCO; HA, THANH MAI; GOTZE, F.; NGO, MINH HAI; MARKONI, EVELYN; BUI, THI LAM; NGUYEN, ANH DUC; LE, NHU THINH; BRUNNER, THOMAS A.. The use of the transtheoretical model of behaviour change to understand meat consumption reduction in Switzerland In: 2nd Swiss Nutrition Research Symposium, 2025, Geneva. Healthy Nutrition. 2025

  • BRUNNER, T.; ARVOLA, A-K.; DUTA, D. E.; CRIVEANU-STAMATIE, G. D.; RIBEIRO, J.; CUNHA, L. M.; SOUSA, S.; FRANCO LUCAS, BÁRBARA. Consumer perceptions on side streams in plant-based foods: a qualitative study in four European countries In: EFFoST 2025 International conference, 2025, Porto. Embracing Novelty and Overcoming Challenges. 2025

  • LUCAS, BÁRBARA FRANCO; ARVOLA, A-K. ; DUTA, D. E. ; CRIVEANU-STAMATIE, G. D. ; RIBEIRO, J. ; PENNANEN, K. ; CUNHA, L. M. ; SOUSA, S. ; BRUNNER, THOMAS A. . Perceptions of consumers towards minimally processed plant-based foods: a qualitative study across four European countries. In: 16th Pangborn Sensory Science Symposium, 2025, Philadelphia, USA. Connecting Senses and Minds, 2025.

  • FRANCO LUCAS, BÁRBARA; DASSESSE, K. ; MARTI, J. ; BRUNNER, T. . Swiss consumers' attitude towards true cost accounting for food and true pricing. In: SCORAI Europe Conference 2025, 2025, Lund. Mainstreaming Sustainable Consumption, 2025.

  • NGO, MINH HAI ; HA, THANH MAI ; DELLEY, MATHILDE ; GÖTZE, FRANZISKA ; BUI, THI LAM ; LE, NHU THINH ; MARKONI, EVELYN ; NGUYEN, ANH DUC ; FRANCO LUCAS, BÁRBARA ; PHAM, BAO DUONG ; BRUNNER, THOMAS A. . The influence of perceived food values on food waste handling behaviour: An experiment from Vietnam and Switzerland. In: SCORAI Europe Conference 2025, 2025, Lund. Mainstreaming Sustainable Consumption, 2025.

  • Bárbara Franco Lucas; Kate Dassesse; Anna Nicolet; Joachim Marti; Thomas Brunner. Consumer’s knowledge and attitude towards true cost accounting and true price: Evidence from a pilot survey conducted in Switzerland. Agroecology Science days, Lausanne - Switzerland, 2024.

  • Bárbara Franco Lucas; Evelyn Markoni; Franziska Götze; Minh Hai Ngo; Thanh Mai Ha; Nhu Thinh Le; Thi Lam Bui; Anh Duc Nguyen; Bao Duong Pham; Thomas A. Brunner. Segmentation of consumers in Switzerland and Vietnam by psychological drivers and stages of behaviour change in meat consumption reduction. 11th European Conference on Sensory and Consumer Research - EUROSENSE 2024, Dublin-Ireland, 2024.

  • Bárbara Franco Lucas; Thomas A. Brunner. Determinanten der Bereitschaft zum Kauf und Verzehr von Lebensmitteln auf Mikroalgenbasis in der Schweiz: eine explorative Studie. D-A-CH Algen Summit 2024 - AGROSCOPE, Liebefeld-Switzerland, 2024

  • Sophie Ghvanidze; Bárbara Franco Lucas; Thomas A. Brunner; J. H. Hanf. Unveiling Wine and Cannabis Consumption Motivations: A Segmentation Study of Wine Consumers in Germany. 16th Annual Conference of the American Association of Wine Economists, Lausanne - Switzerland, 2024.
    2024.

  • Bárbara Franco Lucas; Evelyn Markoni; Franziska Götze; Minh Hai Ngo; Thanh Mai Ha; Nhu Thinh Le; Thi Lam Bui; Anh Duc Nguyen; Bao Duong Pham; Thomas A. Brunner. Drivers and barriers of the intention to increase vegetable consumption: a cross-cultural study with Swiss and Vietnamese consumers. 187 th Seminar of the European Association of Agricultural Economists (EAAE), Frick-Switzerland, 2024.

  • LUCAS, B. F.; BRUNNER, T.
    Consumers attitude change after providing information about microalgae-based foods. In: 15th Pangborn Sensory Science Symposium, 2023, Nantes, France. Meeting new challenges in a changing world, 2023.

  • LUCAS, B. F.; COSTA, J.A.V.; BRUNNER, T.
    Consumer attitudes toward superfoods: a study in Switzerland. In: 13th Pangborn Sensory Science Symposium, 2019, Edinburgh, Scotland.

  • COSTA, J. A. V.; LUCAS, B. F.; MORAIS, M.G.; SANTOS, T. D.; ROSA, A. P. C.
    Development of snack bars with Spirulina biomass: effect of microalga concentration in color and microbiological parameters. In FFC’s 26th International Conference and Expo on Functional Foods, 2019, San Diego, USA.

  • LUCAS, B. F.; ROSA, A. P. C.; SANTOS, T. D.; COSTA, J. A. V.
    Influence of Spirulina on textural and microstructural properties of cereal bars. In: XII CIBIA - Iberoamerican Congress of Food Engineering, 2019, Faro - Portugal.

  • LUCAS, B. F.; ROSA, A. P. C.; SANTOS, T. D.; COSTA, J. A. V.
    Snack bars enriched with microalga: sensory evaluation by schoolchildren. In: XII CIBIA - Iberoamerican Congress of Food Engineering, 2019, Faro - Portugal.

  • LUCAS, B. F.; CORA, J.; SANTOS, T. D.; COSTA, J. A. V.
    Influence of Spirulina addition on physical properties of ready-to-eat extrudates. In: 12º Latin American Symposium of Food Science - 12 SLACA, 2017, Campinas – SP, Brazil. https://proceedings.science/slaca/slaca-2017/papers/influence-of-spirulina-addition-on-physical-properties-of-ready-to-eat-extrudates

  • LUCAS, B. F.; MORAIS, M. G.; SANTOS, T. D.; COSTA, J. A. V.
    Nutritional enrichment of snacks developed by thermoplastic extrusion using Spirulina. In: Algae Biomass Summit 2017, 2017, Salt Lake City, USA.

  • LUCAS, B. F.; CORA, J.; SANTOS, T. D.; COSTA, J. A. V.
    Sensory evaluation of snacks enriched with Spirulina. In: 12º Latin American Symposium of Food Science - 12 SLACA, 2017, Campinas – SP, Brazil. https://proceedings.science/slaca/slaca-2017/papers/sensory-evaluation-of-snacks-enriched-with-spirulina?lang=pt-br

  • LUCAS, B. F.; SANTOS, T. D.; COSTA, J. A. V.
    Caracterização de biomassa microalgal para aplicação em alimentos. In: 2º Ibero-American Congress of Food Engineering - CIIAL 2016, 2016, Punta del Este - Uruguay.

  • LUCAS, B. F.; SANTOS, T. D.; COSTA, J. A. V.
    Efeito da temperatura de extrusão no desenvolvimento de snacks adicionados de Spirulina In: 2º Ibero-American Congress of Food Engineering - CIIAL 2016, 2016, Punta del Este - Uruguay.

  • LUCAS, B. F.; SANTOS, T. D.; COSTA, J. A. V.
    Efeito da umidade nas propriedades físicas de snacks extrusados adicionados de Spirulina. In: 2º Ibero-American Congress of Food Engineering - CIIAL 2016, 2016, Punta del Este - Uruguay.

  • LUCAS, B. F.; ALTEMIO, A. D. C.
    Avaliação Sensorial de Queijo Tipo Minas Frescal Acrescido de Frutas Cristalizadas. In: 10 SLACA - Latin American Symposium of Food Science, 2013, Campinas – SP, Brazil. https://proceedings.science/slaca/slaca-2013/papers/avaliacao-sensorial-de-queijo-tipo-minas-frescal-acrescido-de-frutas-cristalizadas?lang=pt-br

  • LUCAS, B. F.; MURAD, S. L.; OHATA, S. M.
    Utilização de ferramentas da qualidade em indústria de embalagens flexíveis. In: 10 SLACA - Latin American Symposium of Food Science, 2013, Campinas. https://proceedings.science/slaca/slaca-2013/papers/utilizacao-de-ferramentas-da-qualidade-em-industria-de-embalagens-flexiveis-?lang=pt-br

  • MENEGAZZO, M. L.; LUCAS, B. F.; ALCADE, L. B.; PETENUCI, M.E.; FONSECA, G. G.
    Extraction of oil from waste fish. In: XIV Congress and exhibition on fats and oils of the Latin American section of AOCS., 2011, Cartagena, Colombia.

  • MENEGAZZO, M. L.; LUCAS, B. F.; ALCADE, L. B.; PETENUCI, M.E.; FONSECA, G. G.
    Extraction of waste fatty fish from surimi production of Nile tilapia. In: XIV Congress and exhibition on fats and oils of the Latin American section of AOCS., 2011, Cartagena, Colombia.

  • LUCAS, B. F.; GOMES, B. S.; MENEGAZZO, M. L.; FONSECA, G. G.
    Obtenção e caracterização de óleo bruto de tilápia. In: V Scientific Initiation Meeting, 2010, Dourados – MS, Brazil.

  • LUCAS, B. F.; SANTOS, T. D.; COSTA, J. A. V.
    Elaboração e análise sensorial de snacks enriquecidos com Spirulina. In: 16ª University Production Conference of FURG - MPU, 19º Postgraduate Meeting, 2017, Rio Grande – RS, Brazil.

  • LUCAS, B. F.; SANTOS, T. D.; COSTA, J. A. V.
    Desenvolvimento de extrusados enriquecidos com microalga. In: III Symposium of Biochemical Engineering and Bioprocesses, 2016, Rio Grande – RS, Brazil.

  • LUCAS, B. F.; SANTOS, T. D.; COSTA, J. A. V.
    Incorporação de Spirulina em snacks extrusados. In: 15ª University Production Conference of FURG - MPU, 2016, Rio Grande – RS, Brazil.

  • AILIM YUKI NAKASHIMA; ALESSANDRA DE OLIVEIRA DE QUEIROZ; BÁRBARA FRANCO LUCAS, et al. Avaliação da rotulagem de produtos alimentícios comercializados em feiras livres no município de Dourados/MS. In: IX ECONPET - IX Central-West and North Meeting of P.E.T Groups, 2011, Palmas – TO, Brazil.

  • NAKASHIMA, Ailim Yuki; QUEIROZ, Alessandra de Oliveira; LUCAS, Bárbara Franco et al. Avaliação e elaboração da rotulagem de produtos alimentícios comercializados em feiras livres de Dourados/MS. In: XVI ENAPET - National Meeting of the Groups of the Tutorial Education Program (PET), 2011, Goiânia –GO, Brazil.

  • PEIXOTO, T. S.; LUCAS, B. F.; SANTOS, L. N. B.; SANJINEZ-ARGANDOÑA, E.J; OHATA, S.M.; FILGUEIRAS, C.T. Avaliação e elaboração das rotulagens de conservas alimentícias comercializadas nas feiras livres de Dourados-MS. In: 14º Workshop of Medicinal Plants from Mato Grosso do Sul, 2011, Dourados-MS, Brazil.

  • MENEGAZZO, M. L.; LUCAS, B. F.; FONSECA, G. G.
    Caracterização do óleo de tilápia do Nilo obtido a partir de duas diferentes metodologias. In: II International Symposium on Agricultural and Agroindustrial Waste Management - II SIGERA, 2011, Foz do Iguaçu-PR, Brazil.

  • LUCAS, B. F.; FERREIRA, L. O.; PEIXOTO, T. S.; FRIPP, M. C.; ARGANDOÑA, E. J. S. Desidratação de Fatias de Batata Inglesa. In: 2° Graduation Teaching Meeting, 4° Postgraduate Meeting, 5° Scientific Initiation Meeting - ENEPE, 2011, Dourados-MS, Brazil.

  • MENEGAZZO, M. L.; LUCAS, B. F.; FONSECA, G. G.
    Obtenção e caracterização de óleo de pescado pintado. In: II International Symposium on Agricultural and Agroindustrial Waste Management - II SIGERA, 2011, Foz do Iguaçu-PR, Brazil.

  • MENEGAZZO, M. L.; LUCAS, B. F.; FONSECA, G. G.
    Obtenção e Caracterização de Óleo de Tilápia do Nilo. In: II International Symposium on Agricultural and Agroindustrial Waste Management - II SIGERA, 2011, Foz do Iguaçu-PR, Brazil.

Memberships

  • Scientific Committee of IV Symposium on Biochemical Engineering and Bioprocesses - SEBIO, 2018

  • Advisory Board Member of ComMEATted project (funded by French National Research Agency - ANR)

Awards

Supervised theses

  • F.Abbas True cost and true price applied to food: An empirical study with Swiss residents 2024

Language skills and intercultural knowledge

  • Portuguese - Native or bilingual proficiency
  • English - Full professional proficiency
  • Spanish - Elementary proficiency
  • French - Elementary proficiency
  • German - Elementary proficiency
  • Brazil
  • Switzerland
  • Germany
  • Viet Nam
  • Sweden
  • Portugal
  • Finland