Marco Ferrara Contacts: marco.ferrara@phd.unipi.it Thesis supervisors: Dott.ssa Iolanda Altomonte Project title: Treatment and use of agro-industrial by-products rich in bioactive components in ruminant feed Abstract: The growing focus on sustainability and the concept of circular economy has driven interest in the reuse of agro-industrial by-products as a resource for animal nutrition. In this context, artichoke by-products and solid biomasses derived from essential oil production represent a promising opportunity: although often considered waste, they contain nutrients and bioactive compounds, including plant sterols and aromatic volatile substances with anti-inflammatory properties, such as terpenes and terpenoids (ex. beta-ocimene and alpha-pinene). The general objectives of this research are to evaluate the nutritional value of artichoke by-products and solid biomasses from essential oil production, their variability, palatability, and potential use in the diet of small ruminants.