MicrobiomeSupport is expected to deliver on the following:

  • Improve coherence and reduced overlap of themes and goals
  • Incorporate commonly defined microbiome and food systems research and innovation (R&I) agendas into regional, national, European and global funding programmes
  • Define common standards and guidelines in order to be able to compare and commonly use current and future-obtained data
  • Enable the exchange of know-how from different stakeholders through the integration of funding & policy representatives, industry experts and scientists

  • Reinforced collaborations and knowledge exchange
  • Increased coherence and applicability of microbiomes
  • Integrate know-how in soil, plant, animal, aquatic and human microbiome R&I as well as expertise in bioeconomy applications
  • Increase international research breakthroughs and opportunities worldwide

  • Map microbiome funding and initiatives in Europe and the IBF countries
  • Define the term ‘microbiome’ internationally
  • Set-up best practices and common standards, guidelines, consistent protocols and pipelines

  • Improve the international cooperation and coordination of common bioeconomy research programmes
  • Integrated international partners form Brazil, Canada, South Africa, China, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, India and USA
  • Develop joint international research programmes
  • Coordinate alignment of international research agendas
  • Initiate new cooperative research and innovation projects within the topic of microbiome to impact bioeconomy market

  • Coordinate efficient use of the available European and international larger infrastructures
  • Transfer the project results to relevant regional, national, European and international policy makers
  • Raise awareness of the bioeconomy at an international level

Europe needs new business models to warrant economic growth and wealth while limiting the impact on the environment. Microbiomes have a yet unexploited potential to play a significant role in the main goals of the circular and bioeconomy, such as:

  • Composite and make use of waste materials
  • Improve agricultural yield through alleviation of both biotic and abiotic stresses
  • Decontamination/remediation of polluted areas
  • Improve soil through reducing fertilizer use, reducing CO2 production from agriculture, alternative fertilizers
  • Biofuel production
  • Wastewater treatment
How is MicrobiomeSupport going to achieve these expected outcomes?

MicrobiomeSupport will achieve these expected outcomes by integrating actors and experts from all stages in this circular economy of food. Four main target groups have been identified as critical and important for its objectives:

  • Funding-, policy-, decision-makers and opinion leaders to (1) provide practical input on legislatory and regulatory considerations in microbiome research and potential applications in the food system; and to (2) take up on insights from R&I scanning to reduce overlaps and address gaps in microbiome research funding
  • Industry and Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), including farmers, to provide considerations on practical implications for innovative microbiome products
  • The general public to ensure they understand the challenges, opportunities and limitations in microbiome research
  • The scientific community to provide guidance and insights on research challenges, opportunities and limitations in the current practical approaches and in the funding system