Nature still holds a wealth of unknown flavour and fragrance compounds. In TERRAPATH, scientists will set out to discover these compounds and explore how they could be produced sustainably. It is one of three research projects involving Wageningen University & Research (WUR) to receive funding through the NWO KIC call Biochemical Diversity.
TERRAPATH - Searching for new flavours and fragrances
Terpenoids are natural compounds used in products such as flavours and fragrances, including menthol and citral. Genetic and chemical data suggest that nature contains a much greater diversity of terpenoids and related compounds than we currently know about. The TERRAPATH research project will map these natural compounds, investigate which could be interesting as new flavour or fragrance ingredients, and explore whether they can be produced more sustainably using yeast.
"By combining different types of data, we aim to use AI and other methods to predict which compounds are promising and which genes are involved in producing them," says project coordinator Justin van der Hooft of the Wageningen Bioinformatics Group. "We then introduce these genes into yeast to test whether the predicted compound can actually be produced in this way and whether production can be scaled up. We will also consider sustainability, regulation and economic viability."
The researchers hope to discover new natural flavour and fragrance compounds with potential for a range of applications. They will also investigate whether, for some compounds, production using yeast could eventually offer a more sustainable alternative to existing synthetic production methods or extraction from plants.
The research is coordinated by Wageningen University & Research. Delft University of Technology is an academic partner, while DSM-firmenich and DAB.bio are industrial partners.
SPICE - Understanding microorganisms for more sustainable crop protection
Agriculture worldwide is looking for more sustainable alternatives to chemical crop protection products. Microorganisms that produce compounds capable of suppressing plant diseases and pests could play an important part. In the SPICE project, researchers want to understand which active compounds these microorganisms produce, how they act against pathogens and pests, and whether they are safe for consumption.
"For this, we use DESI-MS/MS, a mass spectrometry technique that can measure compounds directly on biological surfaces, combined with computational metabolomics software," says Justin van der Hooft. This allows researchers, for example, to see which compounds microorganisms produce when they come into contact with a plant root extract or with other microorganisms. This knowledge could help improve the assessment and further development of biological crop protection products, paving the way for their wider use in agriculture.
The research is coordinated by Leiden University. WUR and Leiden University of Applied Sciences are academic partners. The Dutch Board for the Authorisation of Plant Protection Products and Biocides (Ctgb), as well as several companies, is also involved in the project.
SCENT - How can soil bacteria help keep plants healthy?
Fungi and other soil-borne pathogens can cause major damage to crops. They are still often controlled with chemical products, but some of these are being phased out because of their harmful effects on human health, biodiversity and soil quality. More sustainable forms of crop protection are therefore needed.
The SCENT research project focuses on compounds naturally produced by bacteria in the soil. Some of these volatile compounds can suppress plant pathogens, disrupt communication between them or activate plants' natural defences. "We want to identify which compounds are responsible for these effects and how they can be used for crop protection," says Marnix Medema, chair of the Bioinformatics group. "In this way, the the research could contribute to new, nature-based alternatives to chemical crop protection products.
The research is coordinated by the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW). Wageningen University & Research is an academic partner.
About the NWO KIC call Biochemical Diversity
The NWO KIC call Biochemical Diversity focuses on making production processes more sustainable by developing and improving key technologies. It explores the wide range of biochemical compounds and processes found in nature and how they can be harnessed for more sustainable production. Seven public-private partnerships have received funding through this call.
