Process improvement to enable economic production of prebiotics and demonstration of efficacy in feeding trials (PIPP)
Lead Research Organisation:
Aberystwyth University
Department Name: IBERS
Abstract
Grass is a readily available feedstock for the production of prebiotics, a market worth $1.4 Billion. Grass juice fructans, converted to short chain molecules (SCM) by hydrolases, show prebiotic activity greater than commercial comparators (assessed using an artificial gut system). Market take-up is hampered by production cost and demonstration in animal systems. In this project the hydrolases will be cloned into a bacterium. This will greatly improve process economics and avoid the major cost of expensive enzymes. The SCMs produced will be used as feed supplements in mice trials. The prebiotic activity of these molecules will be assessed by examination of the mice microbiome using next generation sequencing. Additionally, economic viability, market opportunities, regulatory issues and supply chain logistics will also be determined ensuring a likely take-up of this technology in the market place.
Organisations
| Description | This project builds on previous work to produce and test an effective pre-biotic based on grass fructans, complex water-soluble sugars that are the main storage carbohydrate found in grasses. Previously identified enzymes that hydrolyse these polymeric fructan molecules to specific functional sugars were modified and successfully cloned and expressed. It was demonstrated that the microbe expressing the enzyme could successfully use the juice as a fermentation broth, allowing for bacterial growth and production of the recombinant enzyme. In the same fermentation broth these enzymes were shown to produce specific functional sugars from the complex fructans. The functional sugars were successfully isolated and purified using a series of filtration systems at pilot scale. Following feeding of these sugars to mice, it was observed that these sugars altered the microbiome of the mice gut, encouraging the growth of 'good bacteria' while reducing levels of potentially harmful bacteria, similar to observations when these functional sugars were assessed in an artificial gut system. Cost analysis indicated that the process was economically viable at large scale assuming production was part of an integrated biorefinery, where co-products would contribute to the over all economics. A report was prepared on the likelihood of market uptake and the companies most likely to drive this forward. A number of these companies were contacted and they expressed an interest in developing this technology further, although before committing, would like to see the outputs from further trials on larger animals. |
| Exploitation Route | This research will be of interest to feed companies and companies producing pre-biotics for a range of sectors. We will enter into discussions with partners who have larger scale facilities to produce enough material for larger animal trials and to further assess process economics. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Healthcare |
| Description | Based on the outcomes of experimental work and economic analysis undertaken as part of this project, the PDRA employed on this project attended a six week business development program (Bioaccellerate) to investigate the opportunity of setting up a spin-out company to develop and licence this technology. This included development of a prospective business plan, identifying the unique selling points of the novel fructo-oligosaccharide products, determination of market size and potential, and finally identifying further research requirements necessary to commercialise this process. Within this business development program information about the FoF was communicated to a number of parties, including representatives of Welsh government agencies, the Development Bank of Wales, Business mentors and patent attorneys specialising in biological science based inventions. A short business plan on product marketing and investment potential was pitched to a broad panel of scientific experts, representatives from Welsh scientific businesses, business mentors, a representative from the Development Bank of Wales, Angel investors, and patent attorneys. The development of a spin-out company is still being pursued. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Healthcare |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | European regional development fund |
| Amount | € 2,884,534 (EUR) |
| Organisation | Welsh Assembly |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2018 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | Research Wales Innovation FUnding |
| Amount | £20,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Aberystwyth University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Title | PREBIOTIC COMPOSITION |
| Description | A composition comprising branched fructan molecules, wherein said branched fructan molecules have; a molecular weight of between about 0.3 to about 3kDa;and/ora fructan chain length of about 2 to about 15 fructose units and/or an elution time of 7 to 22 minutes when on a Dionex HPAEC-PAD column. The invention also embraces a feed or food supplement comprising such compositions, a method of producing a composition comprising branched fructan molecules, and a method of making a feed or foodstuff. |
| IP Reference | WO2015075440 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2015 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | To early, in development |
| Description | ADAS visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation and discussion with representatives from ADAS as well as people from own institute on using grass as a feedstock for biorefining as well as for animal feed. Through these discussions, it is hoped that information will be conveyed to the farming community and industry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | AIEC opening |
| 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 | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Opening of AU new Biorefining centre. Presentations were made on current biorefining projects along with equipment available to academics and industry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Azerbaijan Ambassador 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 | Presentation on biorefining research and potential opportunities for international collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Ben Lake MP visit |
| 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 | Presentation on our biorefining research |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Coleg Cambria visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation and discussion on aspects of biorefining and implications for the future farming community. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | EIT-Health InnoStars Innovation Co-ordinator |
| 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 | Presentation on research and Discussions on possible integration between biorefining and health |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Farming Group - Diversification |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation and discussion with Farmers on new opportunities to diversity into new crops or look for new markets for existing crops in the context of biorefining. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | IBERS Centenary Celebrations |
| 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 | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Celebration of IBERS 100 years in plant breeding. Presentations given on biorefining projects and available equipment. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | National Farmers Union Wales |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Discussion to help direct delivery of NFU policy towards zero carbon including biorefining solutions |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Newtown rotary Club Visit |
| 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 | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presented current and post research in the area of biorefining. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Presentation 4th LB conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Oral presentation at the 4th LBNet International Conference, 20-22 March 2019 Cheshire UK. Presented on developments in the production of novel pre-biotics and xylitol. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Regional Stakeholder Partnership for Land-based Goods |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of production of platform chemicals/fuels/fine chemicals and potential health care products as well as integrated biorefining from a range of land-based feedstock. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Society for Dairy Technology Visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Discussions with representatives from the dairy industry to discuss alternative products, including oligomers as pre-biotics, processing routes and valorisation of waste streams. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Taiwan Ambassador 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 | Presentation on current research activities and opportunity to collaboration and/or student exchanges |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Visit from UTM |
| 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 | Return Visit by UTM team for further discussion on potential collaborative research and studentships etc. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Visit to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) |
| 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 | Major discussions with Staff at both of the UTM campuses on areas of collaboration in Industrial biotechnology, bio-circular economy, engagement with Business, possible studentships and available equipment. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Wales Festival of Innovation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on biorefining capability and discussion of relevant projects undertaken by our research group with members of the public, students and farming community to inform on potential opportunities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Welsh Gov. innovation team |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Presentation and discussion with Welsh Government Innovation Team, current projects, research strategy and future directions in the area of Industrial Biotechnology. This included our strategy for interacting with the business community, both in Wales and beyond. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Welshpool Earth Science group visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation and discussions on future farming and the potential of biorefining, creating new markets for agricultural outputs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |