Controlling microbiomes circulations for better food Systems–CIRCLES. European Union Horizon 2020 Program (Grant agreement nº 818290), 2018-2023. Principal Investigator of CSIC: Prof. Yolanda Sanz
CIRCLES is a European project focused on improving the nutritional quality, productivity, biosecurity and sustainability of food systems through the understanding of microbiome functions in the different ecosystems of the food chain and developing microbiome-modulating strategies to improve environmental and human health. The specific role of the CSIC team is to investigate the microbiomes associated with fish (sea bream) production, the environment and workers, and to test nutritional interventions to favorably modulate the fish microbiome to improve productivity, safety and quality.
Objectives
- Identify specific microbiotas in different sectors of the food system that could be used to improve animal performance and sustainability of industries, while preserving safety and boosting the nutritional quality of the end-products and, by extension, human health.
- Identify the key microbiota components specifically in the sea bream food industry
- Determine windows along sea bream development when they acquire key bacteria or specific microbiome profiles, to improve sustainability, safety and end-product quality
- Model optimal microbial communities to develop microbiota intervention protocols applicable to sea bream and other sectors of food industry, in collaboration with industry and policy makers, to improve benefits at all levels
Strategy
- Set up lab-in-the-field models for several food systems: spinach, tomatoes, poultry, pigs, Atlantic salmon and sea bream
- Microbial characterization of a variety of food systems through in-depth omics analysis to identify the microbial predictors of best productivity, product quality, animal welfare and sustainability
- Model optimal microbial communities to develop a set of tools and practices in the EU that will generate innovative food products
Increase citizens’, industries’ and administrations’ awareness of the importance of food system microbiota - Open an inclusive dialogue with consumers and society about the importance of Smart Microbiome Food Products (SMFPs) for the food system
Impact
- Improve the food production system (sea bream) bringing nutritive, safety, ecological and socioeconomic benefits
- Provide an integrated vision of food systems, from farm to fork, for decision-makers, academia and industry
- Promote market exploitation of our Smart Microbiome Modulators (SMMs) and Smart Microbiome Food Systems (SMFSs) to produce food products of better quality at all levels
- Increase awareness of the importance of microbiota by creating new food quality and sustainability certificates –– for example, Microbiome Transparent Labels (MTLs)