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SEK 30 million for micro-organism research

Mistra has awarded the research programme DOM - Domestication of Micro-Organisms - funding of SEK 30 million for a second phase.

Micro-organisms can be used for a variety of purposes: as a substitute for chemical pesticides, to reduce leaching of nutrients, and to prevent toxic substances getting into the environment. For such uses to be possible, the organisms in question need to be produced on a large scale, they must be “packaged" in forms that are stable in storage and easy to apply, and careful impact assessments need to be carried out to ensure their safe use.
           
The DOM programme constitutes a Centre of Excellence for research and development in fermentation and formulation techniques, and in systems to assess the safety of new domesticated micro-organisms for non-conventional applications.
 
The DOM Centre, based at Uppsala BioCenter on the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) campus, is helping to find solutions to environmental problems by linking university research and industrial development to regulation by the authorities.

The programme´s basic research on microbial formulation and safety issues provides a scientific platform for product and partner projects focusing on a range of environmental applications, involving the use of both bacteria and fungi. Good communication between industrial development and basic research is built into the structure of the programme. The DOM team includes a business development consultant, whose role is to broaden and deepen ties with industry and to handle legal issues of common concern during the product development phase.
 
The research undertaken within DOM will benefit Sweden´s environmental biotechnology industry by offering advanced knowledge in the areas of fermentation and formulation, along with procedures for the safe and efficient development of microbial products. These will be important factors in enhancing companies´ competitiveness on the international market.

A total grant of SEK 30 million has been awarded over three and a half years (2007-2010). The main contractor SLU is allocating another SEK 6 million directly to the programme through its Faculty of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences. Industrial and other users have also pledged significant contributions to DOM´s “proof of concept" R&D. DOM is now recruiting two researchers and a research engineer to supplement the existing, over a dozen strong programme team.

For further information, please contact:
Professor Johan Schnürer, Department of Microbiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)
Tel: +46 18 673215
E-mail: Johan.Schnurer@mikrob.slu.se

BrittMarie Bertilsson, Programmes Director at Mistra
Tel: +46 8 7911025
E-mail: brittmarie.bertilsson@mistra.org

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