UK University to develop sustainable microbial foods in £14m project

Scientists from Aberystwyth University will help develop sustainable microbial foods as part of a new £14m project.

The researchers from IBERS in Aberystwyth will contribute to the work of the new Microbial Food Hub which has been funded as part of the £100m UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) fund to unlock the potential of engineering biology.

Microbial foods are produced by microorganisms such as yeast and fungi through fermentation and offer a more sustainable and healthier alternative compared to some foods.

The first of its kind in the world, the Microbial Food Hub brings together academics, industrial partners, food organisations and consumers.

It aims to develop new flavoured foods that are better for the environment, more resilient to climatic or political shocks, and healthier and tastier for consumers.

The Hub will focus on flavoured food products and ingredients, including growing fungal cells with high nutritional characteristics and producing ingredients using engineered microorganisms.

He will also investigate traditional fermentation methods, which use microbes to transform and improve the nutrition and taste of basic plant products.

Dr Dave Bryant, from the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth University, said: “Microbes are ideal for food production because they grow rapidly, require very little land or water, and can feed on surplus by-products and co-products from our existing food industries. The foods they produce are less likely to be affected by severe weather and can be produced locally, reducing transport costs, carbon footprints and our reliance on imported food. Therefore, this announcement has tremendous potential to address global challenges and drive economic growth, resilience and preparedness.”

Professor Ledesma-Amaro from Imperial, who is leading the project, said: “Engineering biology is already being used to optimise microbial food production, and it is now possible to manipulate microbes to be more productive, tastier and more nutritious. The application of recent scientific advances to microbial foods has the potential to radically change the way food is produced, creating an important and timely opportunity to address some of the most critical health and sustainability challenges of our time.”

The new mission centres and awards projects are designed to play a key role in delivering the UK Government’s vision for engineering biology announced last year.

Andrew Griffith, the UK Government’s Minister for Science, Research and Innovation announced funding for six new Engineering Biology Mission Centres. He said: “Engineering biology has the power to transform our health and environment, from developing life-saving medicines to protecting our environment and food supply and beyond.

“With new Mission Hubs and Awards spread across the country, from Edinburgh to Portsmouth, we are supporting ambitious researchers and innovators across the UK to find innovative new solutions that can transform how we live our lives, while growing our economy.”

The project will take advantage of InnovationAber’s specialist research and development facilities located on Aberystwyth University’s Gogerddan campus.

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