ERA-NET: MicroMBT - Discovery and training of microbial biocatalysts for biomass conversion using moving bed technology (MBT)

The strategic document «EUROPE 2020 A Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth» describes the increasing need in Europe to develop new and green biotechnological solutions in order for us to make better use of our biological resources. Norway has large volumes of marine biomass originating from both wild-catch fish and fish from the aquaculture industry, which potentially can be used in a more sustainable manner. During the MicroMBT project we worked towards an ambitious goal to meet this challenge. Methods and technologies used in the project have been identified by the European expert panel Marine board as drivers in the future marine biotech sector. These technologies include ?Moving Bed technology?, ?-omics? technologies, and ?bioinformatics?. In this project we developed a new biorefinery process, in which a community of microorganisms of sub-Arctic origin was used to convert marine biomass of little use, to molecules with increased value. This was achieved through an international interdisciplinary collaboration, in which partners from Norway, Sweden and Portugal contributed with expertise, infrastructure and key technologies. MicroMBT was done during the period January 1st 2016 ? June 30th 2019, and progressed according to plan. Microorganisms of sub-Arctic origin were grown in a liquid medium based on herring cuttings and cod heads. Analyses showed that molecules of commercial interest were produced during the process. We have, for example, identified several unusual lipids and metal binding molecules that are very difficult to produce chemically, hence the high market value. We aim at optimizing the prosess for effective production in larger scale. The project resulted in new knowledge of high international standard on bioprocessing that can contribute to more sustainable use of our resources and supply the market with desirable small metabolites, enzymes, lipids and phosphor.

By creating a synergy between interdisciplinary international teams, MicroMBT has obtained the following benefits and impacts: - Increased knowledge and human capacity on exploitation of marine underutilized resources and biorefinary processes. - Increased awareness and spread of information to stakeholder, e.g., local and international SMEs in biotech and aquaculture/fishery, technology transfer office, scientific community. - Increased international collaboration across disciplines, and mobility. - Increased interest and awareness on innovation in marine sciences. - Contributed with high-impact scientific publication to the larger audience. Given that the project will continue, and succeed, the results can potentially contribute significantly with the following benefits and impacts: - Provide new innovative technology that can be implemented in the industry and contribute to increased sustainability, with new green technology. - Job and value creation

The proposed MicroMBT project relates to the first transnational call for research projects within ERA-MarineBiotech: ?The development of biorefinery processes for marine biomaterials?. According to the ?EUROPE 2020 A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth?, from 2010 by the European Commission one major societal challenge is ??optimal and renewable use of biological resources and towards sustainable primary production and processing systems..? (see http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en/h2020-section/societal-challenges). MicroMBT seeks to address this challenge by combining exploitation of synthetic marine microbial communities with the integration of the Moving Bed Technology (MBT). The work will include development and optimization of innovative and new biocatalysts, by using state of the art technologies that have been identified by the European Marine Board as technologies which are expected to have the largest impact on future progress in marine biotechnology, i.e., MBT, meta?omics-driven technologies such as metagenomics and metabolomics in combination with advanced bioinformatics within the ESFRI Research Infrastructure European ELIXIR network.