High Value Chemicals from Plants Network
Lead Research Organisation:
University of York
Department Name: Biology
Abstract
The High Value Chemicals from Plants Network aims to facilitate delivery of one of the four key objectives identified in the 2010 Department of Business Innovation and Skills report on 'Horizon Scanning and Road Mapping for Industrial Biotechnology through to 2025', which is to make the UK a leading producer of high value chemicals in plants. The scale of the economic opportunity associated with the extraction of high value chemicals from plants was summarised in the DBIS report. Plant-derived drugs represent 5.5% of the total pharmaceutical industry with sales revenue of £18 billion, oils and fats derived from oil-crops have a global market size of £500 million - £1 billion and functional foods and nutraceuticals have a global market of £45 billion. Other important applications and market sectors ranging from personal care to flavour and fragrance also rely increasingly on chemicals from plants as there is a growing demand for green, environmentally friendly and sustainable feedstocks across industrial sectors reducing our dependence on products derived from chemical refineries.
The Network will provide the leadership to address key technology challenges currently limiting the development of high value chemical based products from plants; covering the entire discovery, development and delivery chain. An Advisory Team drawn from academia and industry will oversee the Network, which already has significant numbers of interested participants covering a wide spectrum of different academic disciplines and industrial interests.
The Network will be open to all, to promote the development of a coordinated critical mass of multi-disciplinary expertise; and will facilitate interactions between research providers and users to ensure that research is appropriately targeted to achieving the full potential of industrial biotechnology in the context of high value chemicals from plants. Activities will be directed at identifying novel products and optimising and developing both feedstocks and processes in planta. Additional bio- and chemical-transformation of plant-derived chemicals and the development of alternate microbial- or microalgal based production systems will also be employed where these prove more economical, robust and sustainable.
Network activities will include: workshops, industry-hosted open innovation workshops, an annual meeting, training opportunities, Network directory and web-based interactions/ communications. To maximize Network opportunities, we will be proactive in engaging with other networking organizations and international initiatives.
The availability of Network proof of concept funds will support timely exploration of challenges and goals identified at Network events. These funds will be uniquely targeted at accessing and developing key technology areas using UK centres of excellence. This strategy will enable the Network to encourage novel technology-based solutions to major industry problems as well as supporting such centres, promoting their use, securing inward investment and further developing the technologies and processes they offer through engagement with the Network. Priority for funds will therefore be for process-led activities and those that have clear potential for further funding or have a route to commercial translation. In addition, the Network will focus on developing challenges ready for future IB funding rounds, such as the 2014 Catalyst fund and Europe's research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020.
The Network will operate to a five-year plan with sufficient flexibility to maximize the benefits of scientific and technology advances in response to industrial requirements. All activities are designed to contribute to the overall target, which is to become an active community focused on innovative translatable research, achieving high levels of grant funding and inward investment in high value chemicals from plants, so that the positive impact of IB on the UK's economy is realised.
The Network will provide the leadership to address key technology challenges currently limiting the development of high value chemical based products from plants; covering the entire discovery, development and delivery chain. An Advisory Team drawn from academia and industry will oversee the Network, which already has significant numbers of interested participants covering a wide spectrum of different academic disciplines and industrial interests.
The Network will be open to all, to promote the development of a coordinated critical mass of multi-disciplinary expertise; and will facilitate interactions between research providers and users to ensure that research is appropriately targeted to achieving the full potential of industrial biotechnology in the context of high value chemicals from plants. Activities will be directed at identifying novel products and optimising and developing both feedstocks and processes in planta. Additional bio- and chemical-transformation of plant-derived chemicals and the development of alternate microbial- or microalgal based production systems will also be employed where these prove more economical, robust and sustainable.
Network activities will include: workshops, industry-hosted open innovation workshops, an annual meeting, training opportunities, Network directory and web-based interactions/ communications. To maximize Network opportunities, we will be proactive in engaging with other networking organizations and international initiatives.
The availability of Network proof of concept funds will support timely exploration of challenges and goals identified at Network events. These funds will be uniquely targeted at accessing and developing key technology areas using UK centres of excellence. This strategy will enable the Network to encourage novel technology-based solutions to major industry problems as well as supporting such centres, promoting their use, securing inward investment and further developing the technologies and processes they offer through engagement with the Network. Priority for funds will therefore be for process-led activities and those that have clear potential for further funding or have a route to commercial translation. In addition, the Network will focus on developing challenges ready for future IB funding rounds, such as the 2014 Catalyst fund and Europe's research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020.
The Network will operate to a five-year plan with sufficient flexibility to maximize the benefits of scientific and technology advances in response to industrial requirements. All activities are designed to contribute to the overall target, which is to become an active community focused on innovative translatable research, achieving high levels of grant funding and inward investment in high value chemicals from plants, so that the positive impact of IB on the UK's economy is realised.
Technical Summary
There is broad consensus across Government and Industry that exploitation of high value chemicals from plants can play a major role in the contribution that industrial biotechnology will make to the UK economy in the coming decade. The High Value Chemicals from Plants Network will help realise this potential by developing a coordinated critical mass of academic expertise, working in partnership with industry, focused on identifying novel products and optimising and developing both feedstocks and processes in planta. Platform technologies will relate to Bioactive Discovery, Feedstock Development (which will include molecular breeding, metabolic engineering and new production platforms), Extraction and Processing Technologies, Biotransformation, Chemical Transformation and Product Evaluation. Socio Economic and Life Cycle Analysis will be employed as a matter of routine to ensure full consideration of all aspects of the product supply chain.
The Network will capitalise on the available technical expertise through:
1) a searchable members area on the website detailing individual skills,
2) engagement with specialist technology providers such as The Genome Analysis Centre, Norwich and the Biorenewables Development Centre, York, providing time at Network meetings to showcase technologies,
3) development of proof of concept and external funding applications that address challenges through the use of cutting edge technology and cross-disciplinary innovation,
4) shadowing and/or targeted training opportunities for early stage researchers, to ensure technical capability is consolidated across the UK IB research community.
The Network will capitalise on the available technical expertise through:
1) a searchable members area on the website detailing individual skills,
2) engagement with specialist technology providers such as The Genome Analysis Centre, Norwich and the Biorenewables Development Centre, York, providing time at Network meetings to showcase technologies,
3) development of proof of concept and external funding applications that address challenges through the use of cutting edge technology and cross-disciplinary innovation,
4) shadowing and/or targeted training opportunities for early stage researchers, to ensure technical capability is consolidated across the UK IB research community.
Planned Impact
WHO WILL BENEFIT
The Network aims to build a multi-disciplinary community of research providers and users, providing an environment for building collaborative work. The participants list demonstrates that there is already considerable interest from the academic research base (not just biosciences but a multidisciplinary community of researchers), technology providers, SMEs and large industry: this is a good indication that those listed feel the Network will be beneficial to them.
The Network will also encourage engagement with the wider public through outreach activities in addition to them being wider beneficiaries of research outcomes from the Network.
The Network will also act as an accessible forum for advice to UK and EU policy makers.
HOW WILL THEY BENEFIT?
Specific benefits for different groups include:
1 For academics there is the possibility to access proof of concept funding, interact with industry to gain a wider understanding of their research needs and further their own professional development.
2 For technology providers, the Network will provide opportunities to showcase their expertise as well as develop new technologies and processes through the allocation of proof of concept funds.
3 For industry as research users, the Network offers the opportunity to offer leadership to guide research outputs as well as the potential for new research and development. High value chemicals from plants are recognised as being an important component of the IB sector - and therefore the UK economy.
4 Policy makers who require information and or examples of high value chemicals from plants /industrial biotechnology sector in the UK can access the Network, particularly through the Network Board as a panel of experts in this area.
5 The general public will benefit from the outputs of the Network leading to the sustainable production of feedstocks. In addition, Network engagement with this group will enable the uptake of IB research with greater public awareness.
PROOF OF CONCEPT FUNDS IMPACT
The Network will have substantial proof of concept funds to award - the funding criteria will ensure that impact is integral to the proposed research. There are good indications that technology development rates will impact on the overall IB market - therefore the Network's proof of concept funds will have a focus on this area, utilising the excellent resources found within the UK's technology providers.
Whilst the research projects are currently unknown, high value chemicals from plants have the potential for major impact on industry and society. The future demand for bio-based products will be driven not only by the reduced availability and increased cost of fossil-based resources but also the potential for new products from plants that cannot be achieved by synthetic chemistry routes alone. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the consumer demand for bio-based products, as more environmentally sustainable alternatives will promote the impact of the Network's collaborative research.
The Network aims to build a multi-disciplinary community of research providers and users, providing an environment for building collaborative work. The participants list demonstrates that there is already considerable interest from the academic research base (not just biosciences but a multidisciplinary community of researchers), technology providers, SMEs and large industry: this is a good indication that those listed feel the Network will be beneficial to them.
The Network will also encourage engagement with the wider public through outreach activities in addition to them being wider beneficiaries of research outcomes from the Network.
The Network will also act as an accessible forum for advice to UK and EU policy makers.
HOW WILL THEY BENEFIT?
Specific benefits for different groups include:
1 For academics there is the possibility to access proof of concept funding, interact with industry to gain a wider understanding of their research needs and further their own professional development.
2 For technology providers, the Network will provide opportunities to showcase their expertise as well as develop new technologies and processes through the allocation of proof of concept funds.
3 For industry as research users, the Network offers the opportunity to offer leadership to guide research outputs as well as the potential for new research and development. High value chemicals from plants are recognised as being an important component of the IB sector - and therefore the UK economy.
4 Policy makers who require information and or examples of high value chemicals from plants /industrial biotechnology sector in the UK can access the Network, particularly through the Network Board as a panel of experts in this area.
5 The general public will benefit from the outputs of the Network leading to the sustainable production of feedstocks. In addition, Network engagement with this group will enable the uptake of IB research with greater public awareness.
PROOF OF CONCEPT FUNDS IMPACT
The Network will have substantial proof of concept funds to award - the funding criteria will ensure that impact is integral to the proposed research. There are good indications that technology development rates will impact on the overall IB market - therefore the Network's proof of concept funds will have a focus on this area, utilising the excellent resources found within the UK's technology providers.
Whilst the research projects are currently unknown, high value chemicals from plants have the potential for major impact on industry and society. The future demand for bio-based products will be driven not only by the reduced availability and increased cost of fossil-based resources but also the potential for new products from plants that cannot be achieved by synthetic chemistry routes alone. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the consumer demand for bio-based products, as more environmentally sustainable alternatives will promote the impact of the Network's collaborative research.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Ian Graham (Principal Investigator) | |
| Anne Osbourn (Co-Investigator) |
Publications
Andreou AI
(2018)
Mobius Assembly: A versatile Golden-Gate framework towards universal DNA assembly.
in PloS one
Ward JL
(2020)
Miyabeacin: A new cyclodimer presents a potential role for willow in cancer therapy.
in Scientific reports
| Description | The High Value Chemicals from Plants (HVCfP) Network provided leadership to deliver a large range of opportunities for industry and academia to develop new links, collaborations and capabilities in industrial biotechnology. As such, HVCfP had a direct impact on the industrial biotechnology sector of the UK economy. The network was a membership organisation, with registration being free and open to all throughout the network's lifetime. The membership period ended in December 2019, and at this time there were 705 members. Membership numbers were comprised as follows: 204 individuals from industry representing 131 companies (micro-SMEs through to multi-nationals); 411 members from academia representing 93 universities; 63 members representing 20 research organisations; 27 members representing charities, NGOs and Government departments. Over the lifetime of the Network, there were 817 members in total: 36% of members were female; 9% were European/International. HVCfP organised twelve scientific workshops over a range of subject areas and held five annual meetings. Workshop topics were selected on advice from the Network's Management Board or in response to member's suggestions. The Annual Meeting offered an excellent opportunity for networking as well as a showcase for the Network's research activities. A number of training activities were supported by the Network, from individual training bursaries (25 individuals benefited from these awards) to HVCfP training courses and larger joint NIBB Network events (50 HVCfP members attended these events). Furthermore, the Network provided public engagement activities ranging from local talks in schools to nationwide schools engagement in practical industrial biotechnology research. The Network awarded £1 million worth of funding for research and business interaction projects. Matched funding from industry contributed a further £464k income. In total, 21 Proof of Concept projects and 26 Business Interaction Vouchers were successfully undertaken. All details are reported on the BBSRC-Extranet for this project: https://extranet.bbsrc.ac.uk/nibb/hvcfp/SitePages/Home.aspx |
| Exploitation Route | Work funded through Proof of Concept funding and Business interaction vouchers was typically in partnership with industry, with each award having an explicit impact plan to be followed. |
| Sectors | Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| URL | https://www.highvaluebiorenewables.net/hvcfp-archive/ |
| Description | This was a Network in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy (NIBB) award for the High Value Chemicals from Plants (HVCfP) Network. The membership period ended in December 2019, data from 1st September 2018 indicated that HVCfP had 705 individual members. Membership numbers were comprised as follows: 204 individuals from industry representing 131 companies (micro-SMEs through to multi-nationals); 411 members from academia representing 93 universities; 63 members representing 20 research organisations; 27 members representing charities, NGOs and Government departments. Over the lifetime of the Network, there were 817 members in total: 36% of members were female; 9% were European/International. The Network provided a large range of opportunities for industry and academia to develop new links, collaborations and capabilities. As such the network had a direct impact on the industrial biotechnology sector of the UK economy. The Network was supported by 13 Management Board members, 4 of whom were from industry (Croda, Syngenta, Unilever, Sun Pharmaceuticals). Since 2014, twelve scientific workshops were organised over a range of subject areas. In addition, five annual meetings, which were designed as Network showcase events, were held. A number of training activities were supported by the Network, from individual training bursaries (25 individuals benefited from these awards) to HVCfP training courses and larger joint NIBB Network events (50 HVCfP members attended these events). Furthermore, the Network provided public engagement activities ranging from local talks in schools to nationwide schools engagement in practical industrial biotechnology research. The Network was a partner in a Royal Society of Chemistry outreach grant awarded in August 2017 to deliver a 'Medicinal Plant Chemistry experiment in a box' for use in up to 50 schools. The Network made 21 Proof of Concept awards, out of 51 applications; and awarded 26 Business Interaction Vouchers out of 42 applications. All details are reported on the BBSRC-Extranet for this project: https://extranet.bbsrc.ac.uk/nibb/hvcfp/SitePages/Home.aspx |
| First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
| Sector | Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Access and Benefit Sharing training event |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | The impact of this training was raising awareness of the Nagoya protocol and how to implement it within the current EU rules. The workshop raised some areas for further discussion - specifically, the individual responsibilities of academics versus the responsibilities of their institutions, and the question of whether early 'screening' activities constitute R&D and therefore 'utilisation'. Recommendation to follow up in ~12 months time once sector-specific guidance on implementation has been published. A compilation of existing sources of support/advice will be made available to all delegates so that they could further widen the impact of the training. |
| URL | https://hvcfp.net/network-toolkit/ |
| Description | Centre for Life, Malaria Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | This was a workshop with 60 school pupils aged around 15-16 and their accompanying school teachers. It was part of a Centre for Life day on malaria. Pupils challenged to consider how biology benefts society, and in particular the utility of research on plants and used artemisinin as an example. Activities included calculating yield from plants of specific metabolites and consideration of factors that drive commercialisation of new plant variety. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | HVCfP website launched |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
| Results and Impact | The High Value Chemicals from Plants (HVCfP) NIBB website was launched in early 2014 and renewed in August 2014. It now provides both an open area accessible to any interested parties listing upcoming events and news etc, as well as a secure members only area containing a directory of member names and areas of expertise plus presentations from past events. The website provides a public face for the Network, which holds a range of events including workshops, open innovation meetings hosted by industry partners and annual meetings. Membership of the HVCfP Network now exceeds 200 people, representing 40 universities, 29 companies (SMEs and international industry) plus 13 research organisations and public bodies, facilitating the formation of new partnerships and consortia. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | https://hvcfp.net/ |
| Description | High Value Chemicals from Plants Annual Meeting |
| 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 | The activity is a general annual meeting for the High Value Chemicals from Plants Network. Each meeting aims to act as a showcase for industrial biotechnology, comprising presentations from industry and academia, including HVCfP-funded proof-of-concept projects and business interaction vouchers. These day-long meetings also offer a good opportunity for networking across and within different sectors. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016,2017,2018 |
| URL | https://hvcfp.net/events/ |
| Description | Industrial biotechnology for Agricultural Bioscience Students |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | 12 agricultural bioscience undergraduate students and 2 lecturers from SRUC were introduced to IBBE research - range of talks highlighting this area and tours of CNAP were given. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Medicinal Plant Genomes |
| 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 | HVCfP organised this meeting to explore the possibility of medicinal plants genome sequencing and linking it to the Royal College of Physician's medicinal plant garden. Bringing together experts from Sanger Wellcome, the Royal College of Physicians garden fellows and academics from the University of York, the possibility of constructing a reference genome assembly resource for medicinal plant species was explored. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Number patterns in plants |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Workshop x 2 for KS2 children (30 children at each workshop) provided learning opportunities and information on areas not specifically covered by school curriculum. Increased interest in science and in particular in plant science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Pilot study of salicin extraction from willow bark outreach activity |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The pilot study was developed by HVCfP in collaboration with RLC-Lab following on from an idea generated by the HVCfP 2015 annual meeting and a subsequent discussion in late 2015. The study involved creating materials to enable sixth form students to extract salicin from willow bark and then to have it analysed by HPLC. This provided students with the opportunity to use real data. A report on this activity was shared with BBSRC in late 2016. Ongoing support for this project into 2017. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
| Description | Products from Plants: primary school workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Workshop led by HVCfP Network for children aged 7-11, approx 150 pupils. Provided learning opportunities and information on areas not specifically covered by school curriculum. Increased interest in science and in particular in plant science. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Scoping the potential for IB interventions to add value to non-food and dual purpose crops |
| 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 workshop was organised to input into the GCRF funding programme. It aimed to explore how industrial biotechnology (IB) could be integrated with agriculture research to drive economic development and how new and existing research could impact on the developing world, in particular, sub-Saharan Africa. The output report identified challenges and synergies for three main themes: ? Multipurpose Crops ? Medicinal Plants ? Other Industrial Biotechnology Interventions Each area presented a list of recommendations which could be implemented with a funding call. There were also a series of generic recommendations that apply to all research project areas and cover aspects such as partnership, capacity building and socioeconomic considerations. In addition to the workshop output report, all participants reported the value of being able to meet to discuss research challenges and explore new collaborations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Series of High Value Chemicals from Plants Workshops |
| 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 | Network workshops to: share research updates, build new research consortia, develop industrial/ academic networks 2014: Utilising plant diversity to identify bioactives / Novel compounds from plants: establishing sustainable supply chains 2015: Natural cosmetics / Extraction & Processing / Synthetic Biology 2016: High Value Products from Algae/ hplc training 2017: IB processes to develop high-value products from plants/ ABS training x2 / drug discovery 2018: Plant Cell Cultures/ HVC from waste plant material see BBSRC NIBB Extranet full details. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016,2017,2018 |
| URL | https://hvcfp.net/members/past-events/ |
| Description | Solving problems with plants |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A series of three workshops run in local schools to engage primary school aged pupils in practical activities designed to encourage them to consider science as a possible future career and develop a greater understanding of the possible uses of plant-derived products. Many of the pupils thought that 'plants are boring' at the start of the session, but changed their minds having had the opportunity to carry out some hands-on scientific tasks and learn about the very useful products plants make. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | THYME Entrepreneurship Workshop - Mentoring the aspiring biobased business leaders of tomorrow |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Ian Graham mentored the aspiring biobased business leaders of tomorrow using experience gained in conducting world class research with impact. This presentation was part of the BioVale THYME project: https://www.biovale.org/about-us/biovale-projects/thyme/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | YORNIGHT 2014 |
| 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 | Lots of questions about high value chemicals; artemisinin a good example of this. Increased interest in how biology can benefit society. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://yornight.com |