Biotechnology/Systems biology

Plant-based meat substitutes have long since conquered supermarket shelves. There is still a need for research in terms of taste and texture, but development is running at full speed. For example, Project Eaden works on a technology that makes it possible to produce "ultra-realistic meat from plants." In January, the Berlin-based food tech start-up presented its platform technology in Berlin. Back in December, the trio of founders was again able to raise fresh capital from investors for the further development of the technology as part of a seed round.

For many, hydrogen is the energy carrier of the future because it is a clean and versatile fuel that produces no direct greenhouse gas emissions. But hydrogen is only sustainable if it is produced with electricity from renewable sources. In the project "Structure-based Metabolic Engineering of H2 Production by Algae (H2M)", researchers from Ruhr-Universität Bochum and Osaka University want to use certain microalgae as hydrogen producers and enable them to produce hydrogen not only during the day through photosynthesis, but also at night.

More and more consumers are turning to plant-based meat substitutes. Even though these products look very similar to their animal counterparts, the difference is noticeable when consumed. In terms of texture and taste, they often cannot yet compete with the original. Symrise AG, based in Holzminden, Germany, will work with researchers at Wageningen University in the Netherlands to improve the sensory quality of meat substitute products.

Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and yeasts are the invisible little helpers of the bioeconomy. Thanks to them, biological resources can be tapped, new bio-based products manufactured and production processes made more sustainable. To draw attention to the diversity of microbes and their great potential for application, the members of the Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM) vote for the Microbe of the Year. This year, Bacillus subtilis is in the spotlight.

Biodegradable plastics do not disappear from the environment as quickly and easily as their name promises. Instead, many plastics degrade only very slowly or partially. Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have developed a new approach that could alleviate this problem: They incorporate enzymes into the plastic during production that later effectively degrade the material in wastewater treatment plants or composting facilities.

Euglenoids are found primarily in shallow and sweet waters such as ponds and village ponds, but also in the sea, brackish water or even salt lakes. The exceptionally wide distribution of these single-celled organisms makes them survival artists that have long fascinated researchers worldwide. However, of the 1,000 known species, only 20 have been studied.

Grain weevils eat into grain husks, lay their eggs in the grain and can thus destroy entire harvests. The light-shy weevils are mainly found in grain and storage warehouses. When there is a massive infestation of the crop, "heat nests" develop. This increases humidity and thus the risk of fungal spores attacking the grain. Experts estimate that pest infestation of stored grain causes millions of dollars in damage worldwide. So far, there are hardly any ways to control the pests efficiently - certainly not without chemical insecticides.

In 2020, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded for the discovery of the CRISPR/Cas gene scissors. The awarding of the prize took place only shortly after the actual date of discovery - a sign of high relevance. The gene scissors make it possible to edit genetic material with extreme precision. Applications range from the treatment of hereditary diseases to the rapid adaptation of important food crops to climate change. However, CRISPR in its original form is not a process devised by humans, but a natural mechanism.

Agricultural and forestry raw materials and residues have enormous potential for a sustainable bioeconomy. These include waste such as bark, wood residues, straw or grass, but also plants that grow on meadows and pastures. The utilization of grassland cuttings for the bioeconomy in the sense of a circular economy is the focus of the ProGrün project. Researchers at the University of Hohenheim want to establish the proteins contained in grassland cuttings as a new resource - for example, for animal feed, food or platform chemicals.