Engineering Biology Hub for Microbial Food
Lead Research Organisation:
IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON
Department Name: Bioengineering
Abstract
We propose the creation of an Engineering Biology Hub for Microbial Foods. The aim of the Hub is to harness the joint potential of two important scientific fields - engineering biology and microbial foods - in order to transform our existing food production system into one that is better for the environment, more resilient to climatic or political shocks, and that gives consumers healthier and tastier products.
Background: Current food systems are unsustainable. Traditional farming and agriculture contribute significantly to climate change, and this is exacerbated by the alarming levels of food waste. Damage to the planet is mirrored by impacts on human health: a significant portion of the global population suffers malnutrition, while diseases linked to ultra-processed and high-calorie diets continue to rise. The way we produce and consume food has to change, and to change quickly if we are to have any chance of meeting targets for clean growth. Microbial foods - produced by microorganisms like yeast and fungi - offer a way to make this urgently needed transformation.
Microbial foods are produced using different types of fermentation, with this process employed to produce large quantities of protein and other nutrients (biomass fermentation), to modulate and process plant and animal-derived products (traditional fermentation) or to produce new food ingredients (precision fermentation). Microbes grow rapidly, don't need large amounts of land or water to grow, and can use food by-products ('food waste') as feedstocks. In addition, microbial foods are less affected by adverse weather and can be produced locally - reducing transport costs, carbon footprint, and our dependence on food imports.
Engineering biology applies engineering principles to biology, enabling scientists to build and manufacture novel biological systems and products. Tools from engineering biology have recently been applied to optimise microbial food production, and microbes can now be manipulated to be more productive, tastier and more nutritious. Applying engineering biology to microbial foods has the potential to radically change the way food is produced, and this creates an important and timely opportunity to address some of the most critical health and sustainability challenges of our time.
The Hub:
The first of its kind in the world, the new Hub will build on the UK's world-leading expertise and facilities in engineering biology and microbial foods. It will bring together academics, industrial partners, food organisations and consumers in a wide-ranging and ambitious programme of work that creates a clear route from scientific research to new food products on the shelf.
At the heart of the Hub's activity will be eleven research projects, each addressing a separate challenge that needs to be overcome if large-scale production of diverse microbial food products is to be achieved. Project will use cutting-edge engineering biology methods, and will benefit from the Hub's additional focus on education, regulation and commercialisation, to ensure research outputs are translated into meaningful benefits.
Overall, our objectives are :
- To advance research into how engineering biology can be used to produce microbial foods
- To develop new capabilities for developing microbial foods using engineering biology
- To open new routes for this research to benefit human health and environmental sustainability
Meeting these objectives will establish the Hub as an internationally-recognised reference for research, innovation and translation in the application of engineering biology to microbial foods - demonstrating UK leadership in this field, attracting the best global talent, and delivering more sustainable, productive, resilient and healthy food systems.
Background: Current food systems are unsustainable. Traditional farming and agriculture contribute significantly to climate change, and this is exacerbated by the alarming levels of food waste. Damage to the planet is mirrored by impacts on human health: a significant portion of the global population suffers malnutrition, while diseases linked to ultra-processed and high-calorie diets continue to rise. The way we produce and consume food has to change, and to change quickly if we are to have any chance of meeting targets for clean growth. Microbial foods - produced by microorganisms like yeast and fungi - offer a way to make this urgently needed transformation.
Microbial foods are produced using different types of fermentation, with this process employed to produce large quantities of protein and other nutrients (biomass fermentation), to modulate and process plant and animal-derived products (traditional fermentation) or to produce new food ingredients (precision fermentation). Microbes grow rapidly, don't need large amounts of land or water to grow, and can use food by-products ('food waste') as feedstocks. In addition, microbial foods are less affected by adverse weather and can be produced locally - reducing transport costs, carbon footprint, and our dependence on food imports.
Engineering biology applies engineering principles to biology, enabling scientists to build and manufacture novel biological systems and products. Tools from engineering biology have recently been applied to optimise microbial food production, and microbes can now be manipulated to be more productive, tastier and more nutritious. Applying engineering biology to microbial foods has the potential to radically change the way food is produced, and this creates an important and timely opportunity to address some of the most critical health and sustainability challenges of our time.
The Hub:
The first of its kind in the world, the new Hub will build on the UK's world-leading expertise and facilities in engineering biology and microbial foods. It will bring together academics, industrial partners, food organisations and consumers in a wide-ranging and ambitious programme of work that creates a clear route from scientific research to new food products on the shelf.
At the heart of the Hub's activity will be eleven research projects, each addressing a separate challenge that needs to be overcome if large-scale production of diverse microbial food products is to be achieved. Project will use cutting-edge engineering biology methods, and will benefit from the Hub's additional focus on education, regulation and commercialisation, to ensure research outputs are translated into meaningful benefits.
Overall, our objectives are :
- To advance research into how engineering biology can be used to produce microbial foods
- To develop new capabilities for developing microbial foods using engineering biology
- To open new routes for this research to benefit human health and environmental sustainability
Meeting these objectives will establish the Hub as an internationally-recognised reference for research, innovation and translation in the application of engineering biology to microbial foods - demonstrating UK leadership in this field, attracting the best global talent, and delivering more sustainable, productive, resilient and healthy food systems.
Technical Summary
We propose an Engineering Biology Hub for Microbial Foods, integrating world-leading research and innovation, education, translation and commercialisation. The overarching vision is to harness the joint potentials of engineering biology and the microbial food revolution to create and deliver a more sustainable, productive, resilient and healthy food system.
The Hub's research programme encompasses projects focused on 'Applications' (biomass fermentation, traditional fermentation, precision fermentation), and 'Capabilities' (scale-up, artificial intelligence, strain engineering, food technology and nutrition) at the interface of engineering biology and microbial foods. Projects will be underpinned by a range of cutting-edge tools and approaches from engineering biology, including automation, microbial community design, bioprocessing, modelling, systems biology and strain engineering. To ensure research outputs are translated into meaningful change, projects are complemented by a range of different 'Paths' (e.g. commercialisation, education, regulation, communication, etc).
The Hub's objectives across these areas are:
'Applications': To advance engineering biology research to produce microbial foods.
'Capabilities': To develop new capabilities for the development of microbial foods using engineering biology (for the members of the Hub and beyond).
'Paths': To support present and future research into engineering biology for microbial foods, and translation of this research into positive, real-world impacts.
Meeting these three objectives will establish UK leadership in the field, with the Hub an internationally-recognised reference for this application of engineering biology.
The Hub's research programme encompasses projects focused on 'Applications' (biomass fermentation, traditional fermentation, precision fermentation), and 'Capabilities' (scale-up, artificial intelligence, strain engineering, food technology and nutrition) at the interface of engineering biology and microbial foods. Projects will be underpinned by a range of cutting-edge tools and approaches from engineering biology, including automation, microbial community design, bioprocessing, modelling, systems biology and strain engineering. To ensure research outputs are translated into meaningful change, projects are complemented by a range of different 'Paths' (e.g. commercialisation, education, regulation, communication, etc).
The Hub's objectives across these areas are:
'Applications': To advance engineering biology research to produce microbial foods.
'Capabilities': To develop new capabilities for the development of microbial foods using engineering biology (for the members of the Hub and beyond).
'Paths': To support present and future research into engineering biology for microbial foods, and translation of this research into positive, real-world impacts.
Meeting these three objectives will establish UK leadership in the field, with the Hub an internationally-recognised reference for this application of engineering biology.
Organisations
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration, Lead Research Organisation)
- Good Food Institute (GFI) (Collaboration)
- Buhler Group Ltd. (Collaboration)
- University College Dublin (Collaboration)
- Mars Corporation (Collaboration)
- Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) (Collaboration)
- Aberystwyth University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER (Collaboration)
- Biorenewables Development Centre (Collaboration)
- Technical University of Dresden (Collaboration)
- Heriot-Watt University (Collaboration)
- LGC Ltd (Collaboration)
- Hoxton Farms (Collaboration)
- Cranfield University (Collaboration)
- Myconeos (Collaboration)
- BASF (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (Collaboration)
- ARCITEKBIO LTD (Collaboration)
- Algenuity (Collaboration)
- Lesaffre Group (Project Partner)
- 3F BIO Ltd (Project Partner)
- FrieslandCampina (Project Partner)
- Centre for Process Innovation (Project Partner)
- Basque Culinary Center (Project Partner)
- RSSL (Reading Scientific Services Ltd) (Project Partner)
- Analytik Jena UK Ltd (Project Partner)
- Discovery Park Limited (Project Partner)
- QUADRAM INSTITUTE BIOSCIENCE (Project Partner)
- Moolec Science Ltd (Project Partner)
- Samworth Brothers (Project Partner)
- Re Generation Earth Limited (Project Partner)
- Arc Media Holdings Ltd (Project Partner)
- CRODA EUROPE LIMITED (Project Partner)
- Mzansi Meat Co. (Project Partner)
- Biocatalysts Ltd (Project Partner)
- Chr. Hansen A/S (Project Partner)
- J Coller Foundation (Project Partner)
- Food Standards Agency (Project Partner)
- Purple Orange Ventures (Project Partner)
- Cargill R&D Centre Europe BVBA (Project Partner)
- Marlow Ingredients (Project Partner)
- Arborea (Project Partner)
- Zayt Bioscience GmbH (Project Partner)
- HERlab Ltd (Project Partner)
- Food Labs (Project Partner)
- Better Dairy Limited (Project Partner)
- Doehler Group SE (International) (Project Partner)
- Tirlan (Project Partner)
Publications
Atkinson E
(2026)
Division of labour enables Yarrowia lipolytica synthetic consortia to achieve higher growth rates from starch.
in Microbial cell factories
Chen H
(2026)
Programmable cell-cell adhesion in synthetic yeast communities for improved bioproduction.
in Nature chemical biology
Chen H
(2025)
Microalgae-based vaccines for aquaculture.
in Trends in biotechnology
Chen W
(2024)
Synthetic, marine, light-driven, autotroph-heterotroph co-culture system for sustainable ß-caryophyllene production.
in Bioresource technology
Gao P
(2025)
Advancements and challenges in the bioproduction of raspberry ketone by precision fermentation
in Future Foods
Gnaim R
(2025)
Fusarium-based mycoprotein: Advancements in the production of sustainable meat substitutes
in Trends in Food Science & Technology
Gnaim R
(2025)
Synthetic biology of Fusarium for the sustainable production of valuable bioproducts.
in Biotechnology advances
Lu M
(2025)
Alternative protein and microbial food production with Yarrowia lipolytica: precision, biomass and traditional fermentation strategies
in Trends in Food Science & Technology
Mehta H
(2025)
Investigating the Potential of Division of Labor in Synthetic Bacterial Communities for the Production of Violacein.
in ACS synthetic biology
Park YK
(2025)
Efficient biosynthesis of ß-caryophyllene by engineered Yarrowia lipolytica.
in Microbial cell factories
| Description | 20th Session of the UN Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture Rome 2025 & Microbial Food Report |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| URL | https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/748eae88-f82c-4d30-bf13-f3cd3493935c |
| Description | House of Lords paper -Science and Technology Committee Don't fail to scale: seizing the opportunity of engineering biology - |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5901/ldselect/ldsctech/55/5505.htm |
| Description | The Microbial Hub Managing Team were invited to take part in the cell cultivated products (CCP) sandbox initiative |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/news/groundbreaking-sandbox-programme-for-cell-cultivated-produc... |
| Description | BIOLEAD: Leading Europe's Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Strategy: Roadmap to Improve Europe's Bio-based Competitiveness |
| Amount | € 200,187,045 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 101291461 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 05/2026 |
| End | 05/2029 |
| Description | Bridging Tradition and Innovation: Rhizopus-Based Fermentation for Sustainable Protein Supply |
| Amount | £49,966 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | PB7749 |
| Organisation | National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2026 |
| End | 08/2026 |
| Description | Engineering Yarrowia lipolytica for photoautotrophic growth by integrating light-driven energy generation with synthetic CO2 fixation to enable sustainable bioproduction |
| Amount | € 260,348 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 101276907 |
| Organisation | Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | Global |
| Start | 07/2026 |
| End | 07/2028 |
| Description | Expert Network for Novel Foods Regulatory Challenges - UK's first collaboration cluster to support best practice and facilitate the regulatory approval journey of innovative food ingredients |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 10114832 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2024 |
| End | 08/2024 |
| Description | Fermentation food Grade upgrade in AberInnovation |
| Amount | £70,710 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | H1088C-15 |
| Organisation | Aberystwyth University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2025 |
| Description | Harnessing Genomic Instability with Al-Driven Adaptive Laboratory Evolution for Accelerated Yeast Bioproduction |
| Amount | € 260,348 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 101281441 |
| Organisation | Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | Global |
| Start | 04/2026 |
| End | 04/2028 |
| Description | MIC2FOOD: Accelerating Innovation and Development of European Microbial Foods |
| Amount | € 600,000 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | AGA-CA24132-1 |
| Organisation | European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 11/2025 |
| End | 10/2029 |
| Description | Metabolic Engineering of the Edible Fungus Fusarium venenatum for Synchronous Bioproduction of Haemoglobin and Mycoproteins |
| Amount | € 260,348 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 101274539 |
| Organisation | Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | Global |
| Start | 05/2026 |
| End | 05/2028 |
| Description | Production of superior meat analogues by bridging the benefits of plant proteins and mycelium protein biomass produced from circular substrates (PLANTOMYC) |
| Amount | € 4,618,367 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 101181982 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 02/2025 |
| End | 01/2029 |
| Description | Red Yeast for Whole-Cut Meat Alternatives |
| Amount | $250,000 (USD) |
| Funding ID | GFI grant 25-FM-UK-FC-1-1219 |
| Organisation | Good Food Institute (GFI) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 04/2026 |
| End | 11/2027 |
| Description | Rewiring Yarrowia lipolytica to design green biorefineries for complete valorisation of sugar |
| Amount | £1,170,409 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | PB0988, UKRI3190 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2025 |
| End | 10/2028 |
| Description | Solar-driven synthesis of proteins and lipids via photoelectrochemistry of living organisms |
| Amount | € 3,999,731 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 101219355 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 11/2025 |
| End | 10/2029 |
| Description | Synthetic Microbial Consortia for Sustainable CO2-to-Resveratrol Biomanufacturing |
| Amount | € 267,188 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 101281847 |
| Organisation | Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | Global |
| Start | 07/2026 |
| End | 07/2028 |
| Description | Techno-Economic Analysis of Fermentation-derived Ingredient to improve Plant-Based Meat Alternatives |
| Amount | £14,589 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BMPF_PB7597 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2025 |
| End | 02/2026 |
| Description | The Sustainable Centre for AI-Leveraged Efficiency in Industrial Biotechnology (SCALE-IB) |
| Amount | £3,300,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | APP69804 |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2026 |
| End | 09/2031 |
| Description | Understanding and Postponing Yeast Death to Improve Production |
| Amount | € 4,055,475 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 101227210 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 01/2026 |
| End | 12/2030 |
| Description | Upcycling of virgin coconut oil processing by-products into coconut protein concentrates and its application in plant-based milk alternatives |
| Amount | £53,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | British Council |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2024 |
| End | 07/2026 |
| Description | Yami Yeast for Yummy Plant-Based Meat Alternatives |
| Amount | £49,953 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 179314300092, PB7599 |
| Organisation | National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2026 |
| End | 12/2026 |
| Description | YarroPro: Yeast on Spent Coconut Meal |
| Amount | £270,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Good Food Institute (GFI) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 04/2026 |
| End | 11/2027 |
| Description | A lab-to-Pilot Integrated Bioprocess Pipeline for Precision Fermentation Scale-up (IBP4PFS) |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I led the development and coordination of the collaboration and took primary responsibility for shaping and writing the grant proposal. This included defining the overall vision, objectives, and scope of the collaboration; structuring the work packages, governance, and management approach; and integrating partner inputs into a coherent, funder-aligned case. My research team contributed technical input on fermentation scale-up, infrastructure needs, and feasibility, supported drafting of key sections, and worked closely with partners to ensure the proposal reflected shared priorities and a credible, collaborative programme. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Project partners contributed complementary expertise to shape and strengthen the collaboration. Academic partners provided specialist input in precision fermentation, synthetic biology, downstream processing, and AI/data science, helping define the scientific scope, equipment specification, and technical feasibility. The National Measurement Laboratory contributed expertise in metrology, standards, and data quality, informing approaches to reproducibility, governance, and responsible data management. Partners also advised on community need, access models, risk management, and sustainability, and contributed written input, technical reviews, and letters of support to ensure the proposal reflected shared priorities and national relevance. |
| Impact | Submtted Grant application to BBSRC ALERT25 |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | ACE-BIO (Advancing Sustainable Ethyl Acetate From Bio-based Feedstock) |
| Organisation | Technical University of Dresden |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I led the co-development of the collaboration and co-designed the ACE-BIO concept with partners, shaping the scientific vision, scope, and work-package structure. My research team contributed expertise in grass biorefining, fermentation scale-up, and process integration, informing feedstock selection, TRL progression, and pilot-scale feasibility. We coordinated inputs across partners, aligned experimental and sustainability objectives, and contributed substantially to drafting and refining the pre-proposal to ensure a coherent, credible, and funder-aligned consortium submission. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Project partners contributed complementary expertise that underpinned the design and credibility of the collaboration. Technische Universität Dresden provided leadership in bioprocess engineering and microbial ethyl acetate production, shaping the core fermentation strategy, strain selection, and process modelling. University College Dublin contributed specialist expertise in techno-economic analysis and life-cycle assessment, defining the sustainability framework, commercialisation scenarios, and impact metrics. Together, partners co-developed the project concept, work-package structure, and TRL progression, and provided critical technical, sustainability, and strategic input to strengthen the consortium and the pre-proposal. |
| Impact | Preproposal submtted to BBSRC Green-Era Hub call, accepted to apply for the full proposal. Multidisplinary proposal |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | ACE-BIO (Advancing Sustainable Ethyl Acetate From Bio-based Feedstock) |
| Organisation | University College Dublin |
| Country | Ireland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I led the co-development of the collaboration and co-designed the ACE-BIO concept with partners, shaping the scientific vision, scope, and work-package structure. My research team contributed expertise in grass biorefining, fermentation scale-up, and process integration, informing feedstock selection, TRL progression, and pilot-scale feasibility. We coordinated inputs across partners, aligned experimental and sustainability objectives, and contributed substantially to drafting and refining the pre-proposal to ensure a coherent, credible, and funder-aligned consortium submission. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Project partners contributed complementary expertise that underpinned the design and credibility of the collaboration. Technische Universität Dresden provided leadership in bioprocess engineering and microbial ethyl acetate production, shaping the core fermentation strategy, strain selection, and process modelling. University College Dublin contributed specialist expertise in techno-economic analysis and life-cycle assessment, defining the sustainability framework, commercialisation scenarios, and impact metrics. Together, partners co-developed the project concept, work-package structure, and TRL progression, and provided critical technical, sustainability, and strategic input to strengthen the consortium and the pre-proposal. |
| Impact | Preproposal submtted to BBSRC Green-Era Hub call, accepted to apply for the full proposal. Multidisplinary proposal |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | APP96927: FERMENTSCALE: A National Digital Resource for UK Microbial Fermentation Scale-Up |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Department | BHF Centre of Regenerative Medicine (Imperial College London) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I led the development and writing of the grant proposal, coordinating contributions across academic, metrology, and computational partners. This included shaping the overall vision and case for need, defining the scope and structure of the FERMENTSCALE resource, and integrating experimental, data, and AI components into a coherent programme. I worked with collaborators to develop the work-package structure, governance model, risk management strategy, and sustainability plan, and took primary responsibility for drafting and refining core sections of the application, ensuring alignment with BBSRC priorities and community needs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Project partners contributed specialist expertise to shape and strengthen the proposal. Academic partners provided input on precision fermentation, synthetic biology, machine learning, and data science, helping to define the scientific scope, work packages, and research questions. The National Measurement Laboratory contributed metrology and standards expertise, informing the data quality framework, governance, and responsible data sharing approach. Partners also advised on feasibility, community need, risk management, and sustainability, and contributed text, figures, and letters of support that ensured the proposal reflected sector priorities and a genuinely collaborative national effort. |
| Impact | Multidiscplinary grant application submitted to BBSRC BBR25 call |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | APP96927: FERMENTSCALE: A National Digital Resource for UK Microbial Fermentation Scale-Up |
| Organisation | LGC Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | I led the development and writing of the grant proposal, coordinating contributions across academic, metrology, and computational partners. This included shaping the overall vision and case for need, defining the scope and structure of the FERMENTSCALE resource, and integrating experimental, data, and AI components into a coherent programme. I worked with collaborators to develop the work-package structure, governance model, risk management strategy, and sustainability plan, and took primary responsibility for drafting and refining core sections of the application, ensuring alignment with BBSRC priorities and community needs. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Project partners contributed specialist expertise to shape and strengthen the proposal. Academic partners provided input on precision fermentation, synthetic biology, machine learning, and data science, helping to define the scientific scope, work packages, and research questions. The National Measurement Laboratory contributed metrology and standards expertise, informing the data quality framework, governance, and responsible data sharing approach. Partners also advised on feasibility, community need, risk management, and sustainability, and contributed text, figures, and letters of support that ensured the proposal reflected sector priorities and a genuinely collaborative national effort. |
| Impact | Multidiscplinary grant application submitted to BBSRC BBR25 call |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Engineering Biology Scale-up Infrastructure Preliminary Activity (EBSI PA) Proposal form |
| Organisation | Biorenewables Development Centre |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | I led the initiation and development of the collaboration and took primary responsibility for shaping the project concept and proposal. My research team contributed strategic leadership on engineering biology scale-up, helping to frame the problem definition, TRL focus (3-6), and the integration of technical and more-than-technical considerations. We coordinated inputs across academic, policy, social science, and industry partners; co-developed the work-package structure, governance and digital infrastructure elements; and contributed substantively to drafting, synthesising, and refining the proposal to ensure coherence, credibility, and alignment with UKRI and BBSRC priorities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Project partners contributed complementary expertise that was essential to shaping the scope, credibility, and public-interest framing of the collaboration. Partners with expertise in infrastructure governance, innovation systems, social science, and industrial engagement helped articulate the problem definition, evidence requirements, and more-than-technical dimensions of scale-up, including governance, access, skills, and institutional arrangements. They co-developed the work-package structure, stakeholder engagement approach, and governance principles, provided critical challenge and refinement throughout proposal development, and contributed substantively to drafting and synthesis to ensure the proposal reflects diverse perspectives, system-level insight, and UKRI priorities. |
| Impact | Proposal to be submitted to BBSRC |
| Start Year | 2026 |
| Description | Engineering Biology Scale-up Infrastructure Preliminary Activity (EBSI PA) Proposal form |
| Organisation | Cranfield University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I led the initiation and development of the collaboration and took primary responsibility for shaping the project concept and proposal. My research team contributed strategic leadership on engineering biology scale-up, helping to frame the problem definition, TRL focus (3-6), and the integration of technical and more-than-technical considerations. We coordinated inputs across academic, policy, social science, and industry partners; co-developed the work-package structure, governance and digital infrastructure elements; and contributed substantively to drafting, synthesising, and refining the proposal to ensure coherence, credibility, and alignment with UKRI and BBSRC priorities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Project partners contributed complementary expertise that was essential to shaping the scope, credibility, and public-interest framing of the collaboration. Partners with expertise in infrastructure governance, innovation systems, social science, and industrial engagement helped articulate the problem definition, evidence requirements, and more-than-technical dimensions of scale-up, including governance, access, skills, and institutional arrangements. They co-developed the work-package structure, stakeholder engagement approach, and governance principles, provided critical challenge and refinement throughout proposal development, and contributed substantively to drafting and synthesis to ensure the proposal reflects diverse perspectives, system-level insight, and UKRI priorities. |
| Impact | Proposal to be submitted to BBSRC |
| Start Year | 2026 |
| Description | Engineering Biology Scale-up Infrastructure Preliminary Activity (EBSI PA) Proposal form |
| Organisation | Heriot-Watt University |
| Department | Life Sciences |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I led the initiation and development of the collaboration and took primary responsibility for shaping the project concept and proposal. My research team contributed strategic leadership on engineering biology scale-up, helping to frame the problem definition, TRL focus (3-6), and the integration of technical and more-than-technical considerations. We coordinated inputs across academic, policy, social science, and industry partners; co-developed the work-package structure, governance and digital infrastructure elements; and contributed substantively to drafting, synthesising, and refining the proposal to ensure coherence, credibility, and alignment with UKRI and BBSRC priorities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Project partners contributed complementary expertise that was essential to shaping the scope, credibility, and public-interest framing of the collaboration. Partners with expertise in infrastructure governance, innovation systems, social science, and industrial engagement helped articulate the problem definition, evidence requirements, and more-than-technical dimensions of scale-up, including governance, access, skills, and institutional arrangements. They co-developed the work-package structure, stakeholder engagement approach, and governance principles, provided critical challenge and refinement throughout proposal development, and contributed substantively to drafting and synthesis to ensure the proposal reflects diverse perspectives, system-level insight, and UKRI priorities. |
| Impact | Proposal to be submitted to BBSRC |
| Start Year | 2026 |
| Description | Engineering Biology Scale-up Infrastructure Preliminary Activity (EBSI PA) Proposal form |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I led the initiation and development of the collaboration and took primary responsibility for shaping the project concept and proposal. My research team contributed strategic leadership on engineering biology scale-up, helping to frame the problem definition, TRL focus (3-6), and the integration of technical and more-than-technical considerations. We coordinated inputs across academic, policy, social science, and industry partners; co-developed the work-package structure, governance and digital infrastructure elements; and contributed substantively to drafting, synthesising, and refining the proposal to ensure coherence, credibility, and alignment with UKRI and BBSRC priorities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Project partners contributed complementary expertise that was essential to shaping the scope, credibility, and public-interest framing of the collaboration. Partners with expertise in infrastructure governance, innovation systems, social science, and industrial engagement helped articulate the problem definition, evidence requirements, and more-than-technical dimensions of scale-up, including governance, access, skills, and institutional arrangements. They co-developed the work-package structure, stakeholder engagement approach, and governance principles, provided critical challenge and refinement throughout proposal development, and contributed substantively to drafting and synthesis to ensure the proposal reflects diverse perspectives, system-level insight, and UKRI priorities. |
| Impact | Proposal to be submitted to BBSRC |
| Start Year | 2026 |
| Description | Engineering Biology Scale-up Infrastructure Preliminary Activity (EBSI PA) Proposal form |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I led the initiation and development of the collaboration and took primary responsibility for shaping the project concept and proposal. My research team contributed strategic leadership on engineering biology scale-up, helping to frame the problem definition, TRL focus (3-6), and the integration of technical and more-than-technical considerations. We coordinated inputs across academic, policy, social science, and industry partners; co-developed the work-package structure, governance and digital infrastructure elements; and contributed substantively to drafting, synthesising, and refining the proposal to ensure coherence, credibility, and alignment with UKRI and BBSRC priorities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Project partners contributed complementary expertise that was essential to shaping the scope, credibility, and public-interest framing of the collaboration. Partners with expertise in infrastructure governance, innovation systems, social science, and industrial engagement helped articulate the problem definition, evidence requirements, and more-than-technical dimensions of scale-up, including governance, access, skills, and institutional arrangements. They co-developed the work-package structure, stakeholder engagement approach, and governance principles, provided critical challenge and refinement throughout proposal development, and contributed substantively to drafting and synthesis to ensure the proposal reflects diverse perspectives, system-level insight, and UKRI priorities. |
| Impact | Proposal to be submitted to BBSRC |
| Start Year | 2026 |
| Description | Rye grass juice to be used for Kefir/ Lactobacillus fermentation |
| Organisation | Aberystwyth University |
| Department | Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Conducted by Valerie Rodrigues: Testing rye grass juice fermented by kefir microbes |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provider and producer of rye grass juice |
| Impact | Growth data generated |
| Start Year | 2026 |
| Description | The Sustainable Centre for AI-Leveraged Efficiency in Industrial Biotechnology (SCALE-IB) BBSRC IDLA |
| Organisation | ArcitekBio Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | I and my research team at Aberystwyth University have made substantial contributions to the development and delivery of the SCALE-IB collaboration. We co-designed the programme's scale-up and downstream processing (DSP) training themes, drawing on our expertise in fermentation scale-up, integrated biorefining, and process optimisation. We have contributed to shaping industry-relevant doctoral research projects, particularly those addressing techno-economic bottlenecks in moving from laboratory to pilot and industrial scale. Our team provides academic leadership through co-supervision of doctoral students, delivery of specialist training in scale-up, DSP, and process integration, and access to Aberystwyth's pilot-scale facilities and industrial biotechnology infrastructure. We also support the partnership through placement hosting, industry-aligned skills training, and input into governance, EDI, and responsible innovation activities. Collectively, these contributions ensure strong integration between academic research and industrial practice and strengthen UK capability in scalable, sustainable industrial biotechnology. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners contribute complementary expertise, facilities, and co-investment that underpin the success of the collaboration. Industrial partners, led by BASF and Bühler, provide strategic leadership in industrial biotechnology, access to pilot- and industrial-scale fermentation and processing facilities, industry-co-supervision of doctoral researchers, specialist training (including scale-up, LCA/TEA, automation and equipment design), and a wide range of high-quality placements. Academic partners (Imperial College London, University College London, and Aberystwyth University) co-designed and co-deliver the doctoral training programme, contribute supervisory capacity across key innovation themes (feedstocks, scale-up, downstream processing, AI and process integration), deliver specialist taught modules, and provide access to world-class research infrastructure and pilot-scale facilities. Additional industry, SME, foundation, and RTO partners strengthen the collaboration by offering placements, training, supervision, sector insight, and networking opportunities across food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, policy, and regulation. Collectively, the partners provide substantial in-kind and cash contributions, ensure strong two-way academia-industry engagement, and create a coherent training and innovation ecosystem that accelerates translation from laboratory research to industrial impact. |
| Impact | APP69804: The Sustainable Centre for AI-Leveraged Efficiency in Industrial Biotechnology (SCALE-IB) Application was awarded 2026 |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | The Sustainable Centre for AI-Leveraged Efficiency in Industrial Biotechnology (SCALE-IB) BBSRC IDLA |
| Organisation | BASF |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | I and my research team at Aberystwyth University have made substantial contributions to the development and delivery of the SCALE-IB collaboration. We co-designed the programme's scale-up and downstream processing (DSP) training themes, drawing on our expertise in fermentation scale-up, integrated biorefining, and process optimisation. We have contributed to shaping industry-relevant doctoral research projects, particularly those addressing techno-economic bottlenecks in moving from laboratory to pilot and industrial scale. Our team provides academic leadership through co-supervision of doctoral students, delivery of specialist training in scale-up, DSP, and process integration, and access to Aberystwyth's pilot-scale facilities and industrial biotechnology infrastructure. We also support the partnership through placement hosting, industry-aligned skills training, and input into governance, EDI, and responsible innovation activities. Collectively, these contributions ensure strong integration between academic research and industrial practice and strengthen UK capability in scalable, sustainable industrial biotechnology. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners contribute complementary expertise, facilities, and co-investment that underpin the success of the collaboration. Industrial partners, led by BASF and Bühler, provide strategic leadership in industrial biotechnology, access to pilot- and industrial-scale fermentation and processing facilities, industry-co-supervision of doctoral researchers, specialist training (including scale-up, LCA/TEA, automation and equipment design), and a wide range of high-quality placements. Academic partners (Imperial College London, University College London, and Aberystwyth University) co-designed and co-deliver the doctoral training programme, contribute supervisory capacity across key innovation themes (feedstocks, scale-up, downstream processing, AI and process integration), deliver specialist taught modules, and provide access to world-class research infrastructure and pilot-scale facilities. Additional industry, SME, foundation, and RTO partners strengthen the collaboration by offering placements, training, supervision, sector insight, and networking opportunities across food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, policy, and regulation. Collectively, the partners provide substantial in-kind and cash contributions, ensure strong two-way academia-industry engagement, and create a coherent training and innovation ecosystem that accelerates translation from laboratory research to industrial impact. |
| Impact | APP69804: The Sustainable Centre for AI-Leveraged Efficiency in Industrial Biotechnology (SCALE-IB) Application was awarded 2026 |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | The Sustainable Centre for AI-Leveraged Efficiency in Industrial Biotechnology (SCALE-IB) BBSRC IDLA |
| Organisation | Buhler Group Ltd. |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | I and my research team at Aberystwyth University have made substantial contributions to the development and delivery of the SCALE-IB collaboration. We co-designed the programme's scale-up and downstream processing (DSP) training themes, drawing on our expertise in fermentation scale-up, integrated biorefining, and process optimisation. We have contributed to shaping industry-relevant doctoral research projects, particularly those addressing techno-economic bottlenecks in moving from laboratory to pilot and industrial scale. Our team provides academic leadership through co-supervision of doctoral students, delivery of specialist training in scale-up, DSP, and process integration, and access to Aberystwyth's pilot-scale facilities and industrial biotechnology infrastructure. We also support the partnership through placement hosting, industry-aligned skills training, and input into governance, EDI, and responsible innovation activities. Collectively, these contributions ensure strong integration between academic research and industrial practice and strengthen UK capability in scalable, sustainable industrial biotechnology. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners contribute complementary expertise, facilities, and co-investment that underpin the success of the collaboration. Industrial partners, led by BASF and Bühler, provide strategic leadership in industrial biotechnology, access to pilot- and industrial-scale fermentation and processing facilities, industry-co-supervision of doctoral researchers, specialist training (including scale-up, LCA/TEA, automation and equipment design), and a wide range of high-quality placements. Academic partners (Imperial College London, University College London, and Aberystwyth University) co-designed and co-deliver the doctoral training programme, contribute supervisory capacity across key innovation themes (feedstocks, scale-up, downstream processing, AI and process integration), deliver specialist taught modules, and provide access to world-class research infrastructure and pilot-scale facilities. Additional industry, SME, foundation, and RTO partners strengthen the collaboration by offering placements, training, supervision, sector insight, and networking opportunities across food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, policy, and regulation. Collectively, the partners provide substantial in-kind and cash contributions, ensure strong two-way academia-industry engagement, and create a coherent training and innovation ecosystem that accelerates translation from laboratory research to industrial impact. |
| Impact | APP69804: The Sustainable Centre for AI-Leveraged Efficiency in Industrial Biotechnology (SCALE-IB) Application was awarded 2026 |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | The Sustainable Centre for AI-Leveraged Efficiency in Industrial Biotechnology (SCALE-IB) BBSRC IDLA |
| Organisation | Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | I and my research team at Aberystwyth University have made substantial contributions to the development and delivery of the SCALE-IB collaboration. We co-designed the programme's scale-up and downstream processing (DSP) training themes, drawing on our expertise in fermentation scale-up, integrated biorefining, and process optimisation. We have contributed to shaping industry-relevant doctoral research projects, particularly those addressing techno-economic bottlenecks in moving from laboratory to pilot and industrial scale. Our team provides academic leadership through co-supervision of doctoral students, delivery of specialist training in scale-up, DSP, and process integration, and access to Aberystwyth's pilot-scale facilities and industrial biotechnology infrastructure. We also support the partnership through placement hosting, industry-aligned skills training, and input into governance, EDI, and responsible innovation activities. Collectively, these contributions ensure strong integration between academic research and industrial practice and strengthen UK capability in scalable, sustainable industrial biotechnology. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners contribute complementary expertise, facilities, and co-investment that underpin the success of the collaboration. Industrial partners, led by BASF and Bühler, provide strategic leadership in industrial biotechnology, access to pilot- and industrial-scale fermentation and processing facilities, industry-co-supervision of doctoral researchers, specialist training (including scale-up, LCA/TEA, automation and equipment design), and a wide range of high-quality placements. Academic partners (Imperial College London, University College London, and Aberystwyth University) co-designed and co-deliver the doctoral training programme, contribute supervisory capacity across key innovation themes (feedstocks, scale-up, downstream processing, AI and process integration), deliver specialist taught modules, and provide access to world-class research infrastructure and pilot-scale facilities. Additional industry, SME, foundation, and RTO partners strengthen the collaboration by offering placements, training, supervision, sector insight, and networking opportunities across food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, policy, and regulation. Collectively, the partners provide substantial in-kind and cash contributions, ensure strong two-way academia-industry engagement, and create a coherent training and innovation ecosystem that accelerates translation from laboratory research to industrial impact. |
| Impact | APP69804: The Sustainable Centre for AI-Leveraged Efficiency in Industrial Biotechnology (SCALE-IB) Application was awarded 2026 |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | The Sustainable Centre for AI-Leveraged Efficiency in Industrial Biotechnology (SCALE-IB) BBSRC IDLA |
| Organisation | Good Food Institute (GFI) |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | I and my research team at Aberystwyth University have made substantial contributions to the development and delivery of the SCALE-IB collaboration. We co-designed the programme's scale-up and downstream processing (DSP) training themes, drawing on our expertise in fermentation scale-up, integrated biorefining, and process optimisation. We have contributed to shaping industry-relevant doctoral research projects, particularly those addressing techno-economic bottlenecks in moving from laboratory to pilot and industrial scale. Our team provides academic leadership through co-supervision of doctoral students, delivery of specialist training in scale-up, DSP, and process integration, and access to Aberystwyth's pilot-scale facilities and industrial biotechnology infrastructure. We also support the partnership through placement hosting, industry-aligned skills training, and input into governance, EDI, and responsible innovation activities. Collectively, these contributions ensure strong integration between academic research and industrial practice and strengthen UK capability in scalable, sustainable industrial biotechnology. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners contribute complementary expertise, facilities, and co-investment that underpin the success of the collaboration. Industrial partners, led by BASF and Bühler, provide strategic leadership in industrial biotechnology, access to pilot- and industrial-scale fermentation and processing facilities, industry-co-supervision of doctoral researchers, specialist training (including scale-up, LCA/TEA, automation and equipment design), and a wide range of high-quality placements. Academic partners (Imperial College London, University College London, and Aberystwyth University) co-designed and co-deliver the doctoral training programme, contribute supervisory capacity across key innovation themes (feedstocks, scale-up, downstream processing, AI and process integration), deliver specialist taught modules, and provide access to world-class research infrastructure and pilot-scale facilities. Additional industry, SME, foundation, and RTO partners strengthen the collaboration by offering placements, training, supervision, sector insight, and networking opportunities across food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, policy, and regulation. Collectively, the partners provide substantial in-kind and cash contributions, ensure strong two-way academia-industry engagement, and create a coherent training and innovation ecosystem that accelerates translation from laboratory research to industrial impact. |
| Impact | APP69804: The Sustainable Centre for AI-Leveraged Efficiency in Industrial Biotechnology (SCALE-IB) Application was awarded 2026 |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | The Sustainable Centre for AI-Leveraged Efficiency in Industrial Biotechnology (SCALE-IB) BBSRC IDLA |
| Organisation | Hoxton Farms |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | I and my research team at Aberystwyth University have made substantial contributions to the development and delivery of the SCALE-IB collaboration. We co-designed the programme's scale-up and downstream processing (DSP) training themes, drawing on our expertise in fermentation scale-up, integrated biorefining, and process optimisation. We have contributed to shaping industry-relevant doctoral research projects, particularly those addressing techno-economic bottlenecks in moving from laboratory to pilot and industrial scale. Our team provides academic leadership through co-supervision of doctoral students, delivery of specialist training in scale-up, DSP, and process integration, and access to Aberystwyth's pilot-scale facilities and industrial biotechnology infrastructure. We also support the partnership through placement hosting, industry-aligned skills training, and input into governance, EDI, and responsible innovation activities. Collectively, these contributions ensure strong integration between academic research and industrial practice and strengthen UK capability in scalable, sustainable industrial biotechnology. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners contribute complementary expertise, facilities, and co-investment that underpin the success of the collaboration. Industrial partners, led by BASF and Bühler, provide strategic leadership in industrial biotechnology, access to pilot- and industrial-scale fermentation and processing facilities, industry-co-supervision of doctoral researchers, specialist training (including scale-up, LCA/TEA, automation and equipment design), and a wide range of high-quality placements. Academic partners (Imperial College London, University College London, and Aberystwyth University) co-designed and co-deliver the doctoral training programme, contribute supervisory capacity across key innovation themes (feedstocks, scale-up, downstream processing, AI and process integration), deliver specialist taught modules, and provide access to world-class research infrastructure and pilot-scale facilities. Additional industry, SME, foundation, and RTO partners strengthen the collaboration by offering placements, training, supervision, sector insight, and networking opportunities across food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, policy, and regulation. Collectively, the partners provide substantial in-kind and cash contributions, ensure strong two-way academia-industry engagement, and create a coherent training and innovation ecosystem that accelerates translation from laboratory research to industrial impact. |
| Impact | APP69804: The Sustainable Centre for AI-Leveraged Efficiency in Industrial Biotechnology (SCALE-IB) Application was awarded 2026 |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | The Sustainable Centre for AI-Leveraged Efficiency in Industrial Biotechnology (SCALE-IB) BBSRC IDLA |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I and my research team at Aberystwyth University have made substantial contributions to the development and delivery of the SCALE-IB collaboration. We co-designed the programme's scale-up and downstream processing (DSP) training themes, drawing on our expertise in fermentation scale-up, integrated biorefining, and process optimisation. We have contributed to shaping industry-relevant doctoral research projects, particularly those addressing techno-economic bottlenecks in moving from laboratory to pilot and industrial scale. Our team provides academic leadership through co-supervision of doctoral students, delivery of specialist training in scale-up, DSP, and process integration, and access to Aberystwyth's pilot-scale facilities and industrial biotechnology infrastructure. We also support the partnership through placement hosting, industry-aligned skills training, and input into governance, EDI, and responsible innovation activities. Collectively, these contributions ensure strong integration between academic research and industrial practice and strengthen UK capability in scalable, sustainable industrial biotechnology. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners contribute complementary expertise, facilities, and co-investment that underpin the success of the collaboration. Industrial partners, led by BASF and Bühler, provide strategic leadership in industrial biotechnology, access to pilot- and industrial-scale fermentation and processing facilities, industry-co-supervision of doctoral researchers, specialist training (including scale-up, LCA/TEA, automation and equipment design), and a wide range of high-quality placements. Academic partners (Imperial College London, University College London, and Aberystwyth University) co-designed and co-deliver the doctoral training programme, contribute supervisory capacity across key innovation themes (feedstocks, scale-up, downstream processing, AI and process integration), deliver specialist taught modules, and provide access to world-class research infrastructure and pilot-scale facilities. Additional industry, SME, foundation, and RTO partners strengthen the collaboration by offering placements, training, supervision, sector insight, and networking opportunities across food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, policy, and regulation. Collectively, the partners provide substantial in-kind and cash contributions, ensure strong two-way academia-industry engagement, and create a coherent training and innovation ecosystem that accelerates translation from laboratory research to industrial impact. |
| Impact | APP69804: The Sustainable Centre for AI-Leveraged Efficiency in Industrial Biotechnology (SCALE-IB) Application was awarded 2026 |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | The Sustainable Centre for AI-Leveraged Efficiency in Industrial Biotechnology (SCALE-IB) BBSRC IDLA |
| Organisation | LGC Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | I and my research team at Aberystwyth University have made substantial contributions to the development and delivery of the SCALE-IB collaboration. We co-designed the programme's scale-up and downstream processing (DSP) training themes, drawing on our expertise in fermentation scale-up, integrated biorefining, and process optimisation. We have contributed to shaping industry-relevant doctoral research projects, particularly those addressing techno-economic bottlenecks in moving from laboratory to pilot and industrial scale. Our team provides academic leadership through co-supervision of doctoral students, delivery of specialist training in scale-up, DSP, and process integration, and access to Aberystwyth's pilot-scale facilities and industrial biotechnology infrastructure. We also support the partnership through placement hosting, industry-aligned skills training, and input into governance, EDI, and responsible innovation activities. Collectively, these contributions ensure strong integration between academic research and industrial practice and strengthen UK capability in scalable, sustainable industrial biotechnology. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners contribute complementary expertise, facilities, and co-investment that underpin the success of the collaboration. Industrial partners, led by BASF and Bühler, provide strategic leadership in industrial biotechnology, access to pilot- and industrial-scale fermentation and processing facilities, industry-co-supervision of doctoral researchers, specialist training (including scale-up, LCA/TEA, automation and equipment design), and a wide range of high-quality placements. Academic partners (Imperial College London, University College London, and Aberystwyth University) co-designed and co-deliver the doctoral training programme, contribute supervisory capacity across key innovation themes (feedstocks, scale-up, downstream processing, AI and process integration), deliver specialist taught modules, and provide access to world-class research infrastructure and pilot-scale facilities. Additional industry, SME, foundation, and RTO partners strengthen the collaboration by offering placements, training, supervision, sector insight, and networking opportunities across food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, policy, and regulation. Collectively, the partners provide substantial in-kind and cash contributions, ensure strong two-way academia-industry engagement, and create a coherent training and innovation ecosystem that accelerates translation from laboratory research to industrial impact. |
| Impact | APP69804: The Sustainable Centre for AI-Leveraged Efficiency in Industrial Biotechnology (SCALE-IB) Application was awarded 2026 |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | The Sustainable Centre for AI-Leveraged Efficiency in Industrial Biotechnology (SCALE-IB) BBSRC IDLA |
| Organisation | Mars Corporation |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | I and my research team at Aberystwyth University have made substantial contributions to the development and delivery of the SCALE-IB collaboration. We co-designed the programme's scale-up and downstream processing (DSP) training themes, drawing on our expertise in fermentation scale-up, integrated biorefining, and process optimisation. We have contributed to shaping industry-relevant doctoral research projects, particularly those addressing techno-economic bottlenecks in moving from laboratory to pilot and industrial scale. Our team provides academic leadership through co-supervision of doctoral students, delivery of specialist training in scale-up, DSP, and process integration, and access to Aberystwyth's pilot-scale facilities and industrial biotechnology infrastructure. We also support the partnership through placement hosting, industry-aligned skills training, and input into governance, EDI, and responsible innovation activities. Collectively, these contributions ensure strong integration between academic research and industrial practice and strengthen UK capability in scalable, sustainable industrial biotechnology. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners contribute complementary expertise, facilities, and co-investment that underpin the success of the collaboration. Industrial partners, led by BASF and Bühler, provide strategic leadership in industrial biotechnology, access to pilot- and industrial-scale fermentation and processing facilities, industry-co-supervision of doctoral researchers, specialist training (including scale-up, LCA/TEA, automation and equipment design), and a wide range of high-quality placements. Academic partners (Imperial College London, University College London, and Aberystwyth University) co-designed and co-deliver the doctoral training programme, contribute supervisory capacity across key innovation themes (feedstocks, scale-up, downstream processing, AI and process integration), deliver specialist taught modules, and provide access to world-class research infrastructure and pilot-scale facilities. Additional industry, SME, foundation, and RTO partners strengthen the collaboration by offering placements, training, supervision, sector insight, and networking opportunities across food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, policy, and regulation. Collectively, the partners provide substantial in-kind and cash contributions, ensure strong two-way academia-industry engagement, and create a coherent training and innovation ecosystem that accelerates translation from laboratory research to industrial impact. |
| Impact | APP69804: The Sustainable Centre for AI-Leveraged Efficiency in Industrial Biotechnology (SCALE-IB) Application was awarded 2026 |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | The Sustainable Centre for AI-Leveraged Efficiency in Industrial Biotechnology (SCALE-IB) BBSRC IDLA |
| Organisation | Myconeos |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | I and my research team at Aberystwyth University have made substantial contributions to the development and delivery of the SCALE-IB collaboration. We co-designed the programme's scale-up and downstream processing (DSP) training themes, drawing on our expertise in fermentation scale-up, integrated biorefining, and process optimisation. We have contributed to shaping industry-relevant doctoral research projects, particularly those addressing techno-economic bottlenecks in moving from laboratory to pilot and industrial scale. Our team provides academic leadership through co-supervision of doctoral students, delivery of specialist training in scale-up, DSP, and process integration, and access to Aberystwyth's pilot-scale facilities and industrial biotechnology infrastructure. We also support the partnership through placement hosting, industry-aligned skills training, and input into governance, EDI, and responsible innovation activities. Collectively, these contributions ensure strong integration between academic research and industrial practice and strengthen UK capability in scalable, sustainable industrial biotechnology. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partners contribute complementary expertise, facilities, and co-investment that underpin the success of the collaboration. Industrial partners, led by BASF and Bühler, provide strategic leadership in industrial biotechnology, access to pilot- and industrial-scale fermentation and processing facilities, industry-co-supervision of doctoral researchers, specialist training (including scale-up, LCA/TEA, automation and equipment design), and a wide range of high-quality placements. Academic partners (Imperial College London, University College London, and Aberystwyth University) co-designed and co-deliver the doctoral training programme, contribute supervisory capacity across key innovation themes (feedstocks, scale-up, downstream processing, AI and process integration), deliver specialist taught modules, and provide access to world-class research infrastructure and pilot-scale facilities. Additional industry, SME, foundation, and RTO partners strengthen the collaboration by offering placements, training, supervision, sector insight, and networking opportunities across food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, policy, and regulation. Collectively, the partners provide substantial in-kind and cash contributions, ensure strong two-way academia-industry engagement, and create a coherent training and innovation ecosystem that accelerates translation from laboratory research to industrial impact. |
| Impact | APP69804: The Sustainable Centre for AI-Leveraged Efficiency in Industrial Biotechnology (SCALE-IB) Application was awarded 2026 |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Vegan kefir chlorella substrate |
| Organisation | Algenuity |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Conducted by Andrew Spicer: Tested these algae as substrates alone and in combination with other compounds as kefir substrates |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided chlorella powder to be used as a substrate for kefir growth |
| Impact | Growth data generated |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Aberystwyth & Vietnamese Delegation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Microbial Food Hub engaged with a delegation including researchers from Aberystwyth University and Vietnam to explore opportunities for international collaboration in food biotechnology and fermentation-based food innovation. The meeting showcased a project between our spoke at Aberystwyth and Ho Chi Minh City utilising AI and microbial biosensors for next generation safety food packaging. The meeting facilitated knowledge exchange and strengthened academic partnerships across all institutions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Accenture Future of Food - Ireland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This invitation-only event in Ireland brought together over 100 organisations and several start-ups from across the food system. It is organised by Accenture, SOSV, the Alternative Protein Association, and the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein and Microbial Food Hub. Julia Espeso Bischofberger - presented on behalf of the centre & hub on a panel. The evening featured tastings of innovative food products, discussions on emerging technologies and processes supporting sustainable food systems, and talks from industry leaders. It also provided networking opportunities with investors, companies, experts, and start-ups from the alternative protein ecosystem. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7329096137355821056-6OXg?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_... |
| Description | Article - What astronauts could end up eating in space after experiment 'meets objectives' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Professor Rodrigo Ledesma Amaro was featured in a Sky News article on 20 May 2025 discussing the potential for fermentation based food production in space. The purpose of the activity was to engage a broad public audience with research on how microorganisms and precision fermentation could be used to support food production in extreme environments, including space missions, while also demonstrating the relevance of this work to sustainable food innovation on Earth. The coverage highlighted a space experiment that met its mission objectives and included Professor Ledesma Amaro's comments on the potential to produce food, materials and other essential products directly where they are needed. Outcomes included increased public visibility for this research area, wider awareness of microbial food and precision fermentation, and stronger recognition of Imperial College London's contribution to future food and space biotechnology. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://news.sky.com/story/what-astronauts-could-end-up-eating-in-space-after-experiment-meets-objec... |
| Description | BBC news coverage of the Space food ESA project. Mission to grow food in space to cut astronauts' eating bill | BBC News. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The hubs strongest media moment came with the BBC's exclusive coverage of the Centre's involvement in an ESA space mission. On 22 April 2025, the BBC broke the story of the successful launch of a miniature lab into Earth orbit containing engineered microbes designed to produce edible proteins and food ingredients in space. British astronaut Helen Sharman spoke about the importance of microbial foods for making great tasting food in space. News article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp34wzql2xvo News video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RCh1cUFf4Q |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp34wzql2xvo |
| Description | Bezos Centre |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Around 550 delegates, 60 speakers and 25 sponsors attended the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein Conference. The event was held to bring together researchers, industry, investors, policymakers and entrepreneurs to accelerate responsible innovation in sustainable proteins. Over two days, the conference explored how advances in engineering biology, crop science, fermentation and food innovation could be translated into practical solutions. Discussions covered the full innovation pathway, including enabling technologies, ingredient development, regulation, finance and scale. The purpose of the activity was to help move sustainable protein innovation from promising research towards scalable, investable and trusted solutions that could reduce environmental impact, strengthen food security and improve public health. The conference created a forum for cross sector discussion on what was already viable, what still needed to improve, and how collaboration could accelerate progress responsibly. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2026 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7434517888163717120 |
| Description | Boston Visit: Harvard, MIT, Tufts |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Microbial Food Hub representatives visited leading research institutions in Boston to strengthen international scientific collaboration in microbial and fermentation-based food technologies. Meetings with research groups in Harvard, Tufts and MIT working on traditional fermentation and food biotechnology enabled knowledge exchange and explored opportunities for joint research initiatives and mentoring collaborations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Bytes for Bites - AI Hackathon |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The Bytes for Bites Hackathon was a cross disciplinary event led by the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein, the Microbial Food Hub and I X at Imperial College London. Its purpose was to bring together students, researchers, industry and innovators to tackle practical challenges in sustainable food systems using AI, biotechnology and engineering approaches. The activity created a forum for collaboration across academia and industry, helping participants develop solutions to real world challenges in food and bioprocess innovation. Outcomes included new partnerships with major companies such as Cargill, Bühler and Sigma, including a two year research and innovation partnership with Cargill, deeper engagement with Bühler through advisory board and PhD industry activities, and new interest from adjacent sectors. The hackathon also catalysed new international collaborations, including planned joint activities with MIT J WAFS and new links with Hijos de Rivera and Bioga in Spain. These outcomes strengthened the Centre's research network, expanded industry engagement, and created new routes for translation, talent development and future collaborative research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/197451/bytes-for-bites-hackathon/ |
| Description | Bühler Technology Transfer Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The Microbial Food Hub co-organised a Technology Transfer Day with Bühler to explore industrial applications of microbial food research. Academic researchers from the hub and Bezos Centre presented projects ranging from fermentation feedstocks and microbial dairy proteins to novel protein expression systems and hybrid protein texturisation. Discussions with Bühler experts focused on scalability, industrial applications, and potential collaboration opportunities, identifying promising projects for follow-up with industry partners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2026 |
| Description | Creativity Science Workshop - Filamentous Fungi Working Group & ECR Community |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Creativity Science Workshop - Filamentous Fungi Working Group & ECR Community Making Space for Creativity in Science brought together researchers and early-career scientists at Imperial College London for a one-day programme exploring the role of creativity in scientific research. Hosted by the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein & the Microbial Food Hub following the 2026 conference, the event featured keynote talks from Vayu Hill-Maini and David Kaplan, alongside research presentations highlighting advances in the alternative protein field. The programme concluded with an interactive workshop on creativity in science, where participants explored practical approaches to integrating creative thinking into everyday research practice. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2026 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7437129725065547777 |
| Description | FAO Conference & Microbial Food Report |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Professor Rodrigo Ledesma Amaro contributed evidence in 2025 through an FAO commissioned study on the sustainable use and conservation of fermentation associated microorganisms within the agrifood system. The study was intended to support international policy discussions on the role of these microorganisms in sustainable food production, food security and resilient agrifood systems, including their relevance to microbial food and precision fermentation. The activity contributed expert evidence to the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, strengthened the visibility of Imperial College London, the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein and the Microbial Food Hub in an international policy context, and helped position fermentation based innovation within wider debates on biodiversity conservation, regulation and responsible translation to market. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/748eae88-f82c-4d30-bf13-f3cd3493935c |
| Description | Filamentous Fungi for Food: Working group foundation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Microbial Food Hub started an internal working group consisting of Bezos centre and Hub members. The group is specifically focused on sharing practical learnings and methodologies when experimenting with filamentous fungal species. The programme includes research/ industrial talks and an interactive workshops. The ongoing meetings strengthen collaboration across institutions and identified opportunities for joint work in fungal fermentation and microbial food production. Two new projects have been created as a result of this working group and additional funding is currently being sort in consortia. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Food matters Live 2025 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Professor Rodrigo Ledesma Amaro delivered the opening keynote at Food Matters Live in Ascot in October 2025, focusing on the role of microbial foods in building a more resilient food and nutrition system. The purpose of the activity was to communicate the urgency of food system transformation and to share insight on the opportunities and challenges associated with plant based, cultivated and microbial protein technologies. The keynote highlighted Imperial College London's leadership in this space, including the work of the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein and the Microbial Food Hub, their active research portfolio, and new training and accelerator initiatives. Outcomes included increased visibility for this work among an industry facing audience, wider dissemination of key messages on sustainable protein innovation, and stronger awareness of the need for collaboration across science, business and regulation to enable real world impact. The director also features in a podcast recording of the event and news article below: https://www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-r5972-25c01324 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQZfLMYOSLA |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ledesmaamaro_foodmatterslive-sustainableprotein-engineeringbiology-ac... |
| Description | Future Food Tech London 2025 Panel & Speaker |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Future Food-Tech London convened global leaders from across the food innovation ecosystem-including major food companies, startups, investors, and researchers-to explore the technologies shaping the future of sustainable food systems. The Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein participated actively in the summit, with Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro joining a panel discussion on the future of fermentation and ingredient diversification, highlighting how scientific advances can support new food production pathways and commercial translation. John-Felipe Murphy also contributed insights on global geographies of growth and how innovation ecosystems can accelerate the development and scaling of next-generation food technologies. The event provided an opportunity to engage with industry partners, investors, and innovators working to build more resilient and sustainable food systems. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.futurefoodtechlondon.com/full-speaker-list/rodrigo-ledesma-amaro-hy2x |
| Description | Hackathon Nutrition - "Designing the Perfect Food" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Microbial Food Hub organised a mini-hackathon focused on designing bioengineered or microbial foods to address nutrition challenges related to non-communicable diseases. Interdisciplinary teams developed concepts for functional foods targeting specific nutritional outcomes and presented their ideas through short pitches. The activity fostered creative problem-solving and interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers working at the intersection of nutrition, engineering biology, and food science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Hosting the FSA Away Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The Food Standards Agency Away Day was hosted at Imperial College London in 2025 and brought together members of the Food Standards Agency with researchers, companies and innovation leaders working in microbial foods and precision fermentation. The purpose of the activity was to provide direct exposure to emerging science, production technologies and regulatory considerations shaping the future food sector. The Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein and the Microbial Food Hub played a leading role in convening the day, which included introductions to Imperial's wider mission, talks from sector experts, and a behind the scenes visit to Multus Biotechnology. The event created a valuable opportunity for regulators to engage directly with researchers and companies, strengthened relationships across the ecosystem, and supported greater awareness of the scientific, commercial and regulatory issues relevant to future food innovation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7360679837109223427 |
| Description | IP Workshop: IP Do's and Don'ts by Potter Clarkson |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | IP Do's and Don'ts: Early Stage Intellectual Property for Researchers was a co created educational session developed by the Microbial Food Hub in partnership with Potter Clarkson for our PhD and postdoctoral researchers. The purpose of the session was to help early career researchers understand the fundamentals of intellectual property in early stage scientific work and to provide practical guidance on how to protect research outputs while supporting future translation and commercial potential. The session covered issues such as when to publish results, what information could be shared safely at conferences or poster sessions, and how good lab notebook and data recording practices support IP protection. It also explored what types of scientific findings may be patentable, the evidence needed for filing, and the differences between patents, copyright and trade secrets. The activity helped equip PhD students and postdoctoral researchers with a clearer understanding of how to identify potentially valuable IP, avoid common mistakes, and take appropriate early steps when they believe they have developed something novel. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Innovate UK Business Connect - Food Sector Group Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The Microbial Food Hub hosted members of the Innovate UK Business Connect Food Sector Group 29th October 2025. Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro presented an overview of the Hub's work and current trends in microbial foods and alternative proteins. The session enabled dialogue with industry partners including major food companies and innovation organisations, strengthening industry engagement and identifying opportunities for collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Innovate UK General Expert Mission Switzerland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Dr Simon Partridge, Hub manager of the Microbial Food Hub, was invited to represent the UK on an Innovate UK Global Expert Mission to Switzerland focused on engineering biology. The purpose of the activity was to assess the Swiss engineering biology ecosystem, build links with key stakeholders across academia, research, business and public agencies, and identify areas where UK and Swiss strengths could be aligned for mutual benefit. The mission examined opportunities across agrifood, agricultural biologics and cleantech, and aimed to support future collaboration between the two countries. Outcomes included contribution to a public Innovate UK mission report, identification of partnership opportunities and soft landing support for UK organisations, and recommendations to strengthen future UK Switzerland collaboration through innovation networks, consortia building, researcher exchange and ongoing bilateral engagement. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Engineering-Biology-in-Switzerland-PU... |
| Description | Interstellar 1.5 Degree Cuisine: MSc Clean Tech challenge |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Interstellar Cuisine: Foods of the Future was an educational activity we co-created within the MSc Cleantech Innovation course at Imperial College London. Students were challenged to create food suitable for space environments, using the 1.5 Degree Cuisine theme to link the brief to climate focused food innovation and the need for sustainable, low resource food systems. With contributions from industry pioneering new foods - Puratos, Arborea and ENOUGH foods, the activity aimed to stimulate creative, interdisciplinary thinking around future foods. It helped participants engage with real world challenges in sustainable protein, resilience and food design, and highlighted how ideas developed for space could have relevance for future food production on Earth. A video was produced to showcase the challenge and raise awareness for the potential of microbial foods. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2026 |
| URL | https://vimeo.com/1170622497?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci |
| Description | Lloyds - SVG Financing the future of Food |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Lloyds & SVG Roundtable convened a select group of senior leaders from some of the world's largest food, finance, and innovation organisations to discuss how capital and partnerships can accelerate the scaling of alternative food production systems. Held in London, the roundtable brought together corporates, investors, scientists, and scale-ups to explore investable opportunities across areas such as alternative proteins, novel ingredients, and controlled-environment agriculture. Through high-level discussions and interactive sessions, participants examined structural barriers-including energy costs, technology transfer, and commercial risk-and identified pathways for collaboration, co-investment, and industry partnerships to support a more resilient, nutritious, and climate-smart food system. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | MEVO Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Microbial Food Hub researchers participated in the MEVO Conference, an international event focused on microbial and fermentation-based food innovation. Professor Rodrigo Ledesma Amaro presented on microbial foods and sustainable protein technologies, sharing insights on research advances and translation pathways. Participation increased visibility of the Hub's work and strengthened connections with industry, startup, and academic partners working in microbial food innovation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2026 |
| Description | Market Authorisation Innovation Research Programme (IRP) - Hosted |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Alongside hosting this event, representatives from the Microbial Food Hub participated in the launch of the Market Authorisation Innovation Research Programme (IRP) led by the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) in collaboration with Food Standards Scotland and funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's Regulatory Innovation Office. The event brought together regulators, policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders to discuss how the UK can support safe innovation in precision fermentation and other novel food technologies. Prof Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro opened the event on behalf of Imperial College London, highlighting the role of microbial foods and precision fermentation within the Microbial Food Hub and the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein. The programme introduced new initiatives including the Innovation Guidance Hub and Business Support Service to help companies navigate the novel foods authorisation process. Engagement in the launch strengthened dialogue between researchers and regulators, contributing scientific expertise to emerging regulatory frameworks and supporting the development of a robust pathway for the safe commercialisation of microbial and fermentation-derived foods in the UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bezos-centre-imperial_foodinnovation-precisionfermentation-novelfoods... |
| Description | NAPIC Inaugural Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | NAPIC Conference - Alternative Protein Innovation brought together researchers, industry leaders, investors, and policymakers to explore the latest scientific and commercial developments in alternative proteins. Organised by the NAPIC, the conference provided a platform for collaboration across academia, industry, and government to accelerate innovation in sustainable protein production. Discussions focused on emerging technologies such as plant-based proteins, fermentation, and cultivated meat, as well as the pathways needed to translate research into scalable food solutions. Vice director of the hub - Karen Polizzi presented her research. Centre/ Hub team - Yvonne McMeel attended and contributed to discussions on strengthening innovation ecosystems, partnerships, and translation pathways to support the growth of the UK alternative protein sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/posts/napic_napic2025-innovation-alternativeproteins-activity-7373370313394... |
| Description | NFX Launch Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The NFX UK Launch Conference was a one day event held in London to mark the launch of NFX UK, the UK's first Novel Foods Expert Network for Regulatory Challenges. The network was delivered in partnership by RSSL, Imperial College London and The Supplant Company, with the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein and the Microbial Food Hub at Imperial College London playing a leading co organising and founding role in establishing the network and shaping the event. Its purpose was to bring together food innovators, researchers, regulators, investors and policymakers to share knowledge, build connections and support the commercialisation of novel foods in the UK. The conference covered regulatory developments, dossier submission challenges, commercial scale up, funding, market perspectives and emerging food technologies including alternative proteins and fermentation. The event helped position the Microbial Food Hub as key conveners in the UK novel foods ecosystem, while strengthening cross sector collaboration around innovation, regulation and routes to market. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://nfxuk.co.uk/events/nfx-uk-launch-conference-nfx-uk/ |
| Description | Netherlands Embassy Visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The Microbial Food Hub contributed to the NL-UK Cellular Agriculture Fact-Finding Mission, organised by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Cellular Agriculture Nederland (CAN), the Alternative Protein Association, and the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein and Microbial Food Hub at Imperial College London. The two-day mission brought together representatives from Dutch and UK businesses, universities, and government to explore opportunities for collaboration in cellular agriculture and food biotechnology. As part of the programme, delegates visited Imperial College London to engage with researchers from the Microbial Food Hub and wider UK ecosystem, alongside visits to companies including Multus and Hoxton Farms. Discussions focused on research collaboration, regulatory developments, funding pathways, and scaling challenges for cellular agriculture technologies. The visit strengthened UK-Netherlands collaboration in alternative proteins and identified multiple areas for future partnership across research, policy, and industry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2026 |
| URL | https://www.agroberichtenbuitenland.nl/actueel/nieuws/2026/02/12/dutch-businesses-and-experts-visit-... |
| Description | Parliamentary Food Fermentation Fair |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The Parliamentary Food Fermentation Fair was held at Westminster in 2025 and convened parliamentarians, researchers, food innovators, founders and partner organisations to explore the contribution of fermentation to healthier, more sustainable and resilient food systems. The purpose of the activity was to bring science and innovation into direct conversation with policymakers, demonstrating the potential of fermentation and microbial innovation to address major food, climate and public health challenges. The Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein and the Microbial Food Hub were represented at the event and shared their work on sustainable protein and microbial food innovation. Outcomes included increased visibility for fermentation within a policy setting, stronger connections across the UK food innovation ecosystem, and direct engagement with parliamentarians that helped support wider awareness of the scientific, commercial and regulatory opportunities in this area. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sustainableprotein-fermentation-altprotein-ugcPost-735155770964251852... |
| Description | Podcast - Food science: Why fermentation is the future of food |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Professor Rodrigo Ledesma Amaro was interviewed for the Instant Genius podcast episode Food science: Why fermentation is the future of food, published on 6 April 2025. The episode explored how fermentation has long been used to preserve and improve food, and how new science is now revealing its potential benefits for gut health, mental health and environmentally sustainable food production. The purpose of the activity was to engage a broad public audience with the science of fermentation and its relevance to future food systems, including the development of alternative proteins. The episode also highlighted Professor Ledesma Amaro's role as Director of the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein and the Microbial Food Hub at Imperial College London. Outcomes included increased public visibility for the Centre and Hub, wider dissemination of key messages on fermentation and sustainable protein, and support for public understanding of how food innovation can contribute to healthier and more sustainable diets. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/food-science-why-fermentation-is-the-future-of-food/id12966739... |
| Description | Podcast - Protein Production Technology International |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Professor Rodrigo Ledesma Amaro was invited to speak in the Protein Production Technology International webinar Analytics in Action: Tackling the Complexities of Next Gen Protein Sources. Hosted in partnership with Xylem Lab Solutions and C. Gerhardt GmbH, the session brought together experts from academia, industry and the non profit sector to discuss the analytical challenges associated with alternative proteins. The purpose of the activity was to examine how robust and reproducible analytics can support product development, regulatory compliance, quality assurance and commercial scale up across emerging protein categories. Outcomes included dissemination of expertise from Imperial College London, the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein and the Microbial Food Hub to a specialist international audience, increased visibility for this work, and contribution to practical discussion on how better analytical tools can improve consistency, safety and go to market readiness in the next generation protein sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://app.livestorm.co/the-future-of-protein-production/ppti-april-webinar?utm_source=Livestorm+co... |
| Description | Podcast - ValleyDAO| Cocoa Zero project |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Professor Rodrigo Ledesma Amaro contributed to public engagement and knowledge exchange through a podcast interview linked to the Cocoa Zero project, shared by ValleyDAO in 2025. The purpose of the activity was to discuss the development of sustainable, lipid derived molecules with commercial potential, and to highlight how the project was applying principles of circular economy, zero waste and zero pollution to food innovation. The activity helped communicate the relevance of biotechnology and sustainable innovation to a wider audience, raised visibility for Rodrigo's work in this area, and supported broader awareness of fermentation and bio based approaches to future food and ingredient development. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/posts/valleydao_rodrigo-ledesma-amaro-phd-from-the-cocoa-activity-732656208... |
| Description | Roundtable Scale-up Meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The Microbial Food Hub hosted a focused roundtable discussion with researchers, industry stakeholders, and innovation partners to explore challenges and opportunities associated with scaling microbial food technologies. Discussions focused on infrastructure, investment needs, pilot-scale manufacturing, and pathways for translating academic research into commercial production. The meeting generated insights that inform future collaboration with industry and infrastructure providers supporting scale-up. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Satorious Food Summit 2025 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Hub Policy and Scale-up manager Mr John Felipe-Murphy took part in the event at Sartorius headquarters. The event brought together a range of experienced experts from the biotech and food industry. In a surprise announcement from Sartorius - the Hub & Centre were selected as their chosen "partners of the year" - donating an Ambr250 bioreactor system to use at our new labs at White City - Imperial College London |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sartorius-food-and-beverage_join-us-for-the-sartorius-food-biotech-su... |
| Description | Science Museum Event with the Jeremy Coller Foundation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Microbial Food Hub participated in a public engagement event at the Science Museum organised with the Coller Foundation. The event aimed to raise awareness of microbial foods and fermentation technologies among a broader public audience and served to inaugurate the new exposition on future of food at the Museum. Researchers engaged visitors through discussions and demonstrations, helping improve understanding of how biotechnology can contribute to sustainable and resilient food systems. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2025/07/28/science-museum-opens-future-of-food-exhibit/ |
| Description | Science Museum Lates |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Microbial Food Hub researchers participated in the Science Museum Lates programme, engaging directly with a large public audience on the topic of future food technologies. The activity aimed to improve public understanding of microbial foods and the role of biotechnology in addressing global food challenges. The event generated strong audience engagement and facilitated informal science communication with diverse visitors. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2026 |
| URL | https://studentsunionucl.org/whats-on/clubs-societies/science-museum-lates-future-of-food |
| Description | Summer School: The Future of Food: Innovations for a healthier, more resilient planet |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This activity is a two week immersive educational programme led by the Microbial Food Hub and the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein, focused on how to build healthier, more sustainable and more resilient food systems. The purpose of the activity was to engage participants in interdisciplinary learning around future food innovation, helping them explore scientific, technical and systems level challenges relevant to sustainable protein and wider food system transformation. By sharing the programme through a public YouTube video, the activity also extends its reach beyond direct participants, supported wider awareness of sustainable food system innovation, and helped communicate the value of the Hub and Centre's work to students and broader audiences. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2026 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNs2UEczPrw |
| Description | SynbioBeta San Francisco 2025 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Rodrigo Ledesma Amaro, showcased the Hub & Centres research at the world's largest engineering biology conference to range of researchers, entrepreneurs, innovators and investors 2000+ attendees. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.syntheticbiologysummit.com/event-speaker/rodrigo-ledesma-amaro |
| Description | The Spanish Institutional Delegation Visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The Spanish Institutional Delegation Visit hosted representatives from key Spanish public institutions and innovation agencies at the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein and Microbial Food Hub at Imperial College London. The delegation included officials from the Government of Navarra, Government of La Rioja, the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Spain, and CDTI Innovación. The visit provided an opportunity to showcase the Centre's work in sustainable protein research, technology translation, and scale-up support, while fostering dialogue on strengthening scientific collaboration and innovation partnerships between the UK and Spain in the field of sustainable food technologies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Transfiere 2025 Malaga |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | 400+ delegates - The largest European event on R+D+i and knowledge transfer. The Microbial Food Hub & Bezos Centre held a stand along with the UK Embassy Cohort - Interacted with the key stakeholders including the Major of Malaga and the UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Dame Angela McLean. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | VC 101: Building for Venture - How to Ideate Your Startup |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | VC 101: Building for Venture, How to Ideate Your Startup was a co created educational session developed by the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein and the Microbial Food Hub with FoodLabs for our PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and early innovators. The purpose of the session was to introduce venture capital, explain how investors assess academic startups, and help researchers think more critically about the commercial potential of their ideas. The session covered the fundamentals of venture capital, what makes a startup venture backable, and how to ideate and evaluate biotech venture opportunities, with examples from industrial biotechnology and protein innovation. It also highlighted career pathways in venture capital. The activity helped participants build knowledge of venture creation, investment thinking and routes to translation for research with commercial potential. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2026 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7430626488447791104 |
| Description | Wageningen University Student Group Visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A group of 20 PhD and Post-doctoral researchers from Wageningen University visited the Microbial Food Hub to learn about microbial foods, fermentation technologies, and research translation. The visit included presentations and discussions on career pathways and innovation in food biotechnology, helping inspire early-career researchers and strengthen academic connections between institutions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | White Paper & Launch Event - Microbial Food as a Sustainable, Healthy, and Resilient Source of Nutrients for the UK |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The briefing paper Microbial Food as a Sustainable, Healthy and Resilient Source of Nutrients for the UK was published by Imperial College London in April 2025 and was developed with contributions from Imperial experts, including the UKRI Mission Hub on Microbial Food and the Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein. Its purpose was to examine how microbial foods could help address weaknesses in the current food system by improving sustainability, nutritional quality and resilience, while also identifying barriers to affordability, adoption and scale up in the UK. The launch event brought together more than 120 academics, postgraduate researchers, policymakers and government representatives for an evening of discussion and engagement. The programme included rapid fire presentations from 10 start ups, a keynote from Professor Rodrigo Ledesma Amaro, and a panel discussion focused on the findings and implications of the briefing paper. The paper set out the case for microbial foods as an alternative source of nutrients and highlighted the UK's potential to become a leader in this area, with possible benefits for food security, economic growth and job creation. The activity also helped raise awareness of the opportunity among researchers, innovators and decision makers, while recommending greater investment in research and infrastructure and closer collaboration between researchers, entrepreneurs and regulators to support responsible translation from science to market. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/molecular-science-engineering/publications-and-outputs/briefing-papers/mi... |
| Description | a plenary talk at Gordon Research Conference - Plant Lipids - by Dr Peter Eastmond , Rothamsted Research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Peter Eastmond from Rothamsted Research gave a plenary talk at Gordon Research Conference - Plant Lipids: Structure, Metabolism and Function Gordon Research Conference, January 26 - 31, 2025 titled: '"Building Milk Fats From the Ground up Using Metabolons, Multifunctional Proteins and Enzyme Cascades". |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.grc.org/plant-lipids-structure-metabolism-and-function-conference/2025/ |