Green ERA-Hub: EU alliances for innovative plant breeding wanted

Sustainable, efficient and resilient production systems in agriculture are of fundamental importance on the way to a functioning sustainable bioeconomy. The Coordination and Support Action (CSA) "Green ERA-Hub", launched in September 2022 and funded by the European Commission, represents 15 former and still active EU initiatives from the fields of agriculture, food production and biotechnology.

“Yeasts: developing cell factory alternatives”

Without microorganisms, there would be no bread, no cheese, beer or wine. The metabolic performance of bacteria, yeasts and molds is particularly important with regard to a sustainable economy. With their help, renewable raw materials can be transformed into new substances and customized products for the bioeconomy. Microorganisms are therefore valuable production factories for manufacturing chemicals, medicines, vaccines and fuels. The aim of Lena Hochrein's junior research group TAILOR is to make these cell factories even more efficient.

All-purpose cleaner

Several bio-based alternatives

Producers in the bioeconomy have been using plant-based surfactants for cleaning agents for several years now. These surfactants are made from coconut and palm oil, for example. A more sustainable alternative in terms of cultivation conditions and transport routes are detergent substances made from European vegetable oils. These include sunflower, rapeseed, flax and olive.

A more sustainable painkiller

Cannabinoid substances – in the context of the current partial legalisation of cannabis, this somehow sounds like a narcotic. However, many of the 120 or so known cannabinoids are potent painkillers, including delta-9-THC (dronabinol), which doctors prescribe very specifically for certain chronic pains. Because the chemical synthesis used to date is not without its problems, researchers in the BigPharm project are looking for sustainable biotechnological alternatives.

Weatherproof protein-based insecticides

The use of synthetic pesticides such as herbicides, insecticides and fungicides is increasing worldwide. As a result, pesticide residues are increasingly found in food and are accumulating in groundwater and drinking water. Synthetic pesticides are also criticised for reducing biodiversity and reducing soil fertility due to their non-specific effect. It is not possible to do without plant protection, but so-called biologics – i.e. bio-based active ingredients – are a sustainable alternative.

DATI innovation communities

Bringing more good ideas into application and thus to companies and people: As a new component of its transfer and innovation promotion programme, the Federal Government intends to promote social and technological innovations in the future by setting up the German Agency for Transfer and Innovation (DATI). As an innovation agency, DATI will be based in Erfurt.

How roots protect maize plants from drought

The cultivation of maize has a long tradition. 9,000 years ago in southern Mexico, the tastiest and highest-yielding maize plants were selected from the descendants of the original teosinte variety and used for breeding. Over the centuries, the plant has adapted to a wide variety of locations and gradually changed more than just the appearance of the cobs. The modern maize plant also produces higher yields. Until now, it was unclear how the domestication of today's most important food crop has affected the root system.