Microbial production of human milk fat substitute
Lead Research Organisation:
Rothamsted Research
Department Name: Plant Sciences and the Bioeconomy
Abstract
Vegetable fats and oils (triacylglycerols) are an important source of human nutrition. They can account for a substantial proportion of the calories in the human diet. The nutritional properties of these fats and oils depend on the types of fatty acids that are attached at each of the three positions on their glycerol backbone. It has long been a goal of biotechnologists to adapt organisms to make 'designer' oils that are tailored for specific applications. The aim of this work is to develop a new production platform that produces a speciality oil for human nutrition.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Peter Eastmond (Principal Investigator) |
| Description | The project has produced strains of yeast that produce fat that more closely mimics the chemical structure of human milk fat and could therefore be used as an ingredient in infant formula. |
| Exploitation Route | The outcomes could be used by food manufacturers to make infant formula that more closely match human milk, and potentially also to make more sustainable substitutes for meat and dairy. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Description | Collaborative agreement signed with an industry partner |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Collaborative agreement signed with a food ingredient company |
| Organisation | AAK AB |
| Country | Sweden |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Collaboration founded on this project and background IP generated by my research team. |
| Collaborator Contribution | In kind contribution and potential route to IP licencing and commercialisation of product. |
| Impact | Confidential |
| Start Year | 2021 |