Contact
René Groben
Project Manager
rene.groben@matis.is
Europe is dependent on imports of animal and plant proteins that have significant environmental and health impacts, and therefore there is a need to promote a transition in food systems on the continent.
MICROBIOMES4SOY is a multidisciplinary research and innovation project that aims to improve the food system based on soybean by providing microbiome-based understanding and innovations. Soy is a hugely important protein source on the global market but obstacles such as climate change and the need for reduced chemical inputs underscore the urgency for innovative solutions to utilize its full potential. Microbiomes are crucial for food system sustainability, however, our current understanding of their key roles remains fragmented. MICROBIOMES4SOY aims to address this challenge by researching microbiome pathways that support a sustainable food system, with soybean serving as a model crop system for exploring microbiome interactions. The project will develop microbiome approaches to improve crop productivity and nutritional value of soybean under different environmental conditions. It will also test the effects of a dietary intervention based on soybean-derived proteins on the human gut microbiota and health, and develop microbiome-informed dietary recommendations. Matís‘ role in the project is the development of new aquaculture feeds based on the use of novel bacterial strains to ferment soybeans, and to confirm their effects on the microbial flora and health of aquaculture species.