CIRCLES - Controlling mIcRobiomes CircuLations for bEtter food Systems (DTA.AD002.441)

Thematic area

Earth system science and environmental technologies

Project area

Structure responsible for the research project

Istituto per le Risorse Biologiche e le Biotecnologie Marine (IRBIM)

Other structures collaborating in the research project

• Istituto per lo studio degli impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in ambiente marino (IAS)

Project manager

GIANMARCO LUNA
Phone number: 0712078860
Email: gianmarco.luna@cnr.it

Abstract

CIRCLES aims to discover and translate innovative microbiomes-tailored circular actions into concrete applications
that will ultimately enhance EU food system performances and their overall sustainability. The setup of real-world
labs in the field of 6 food systems relevant to the EU market - tomatoes, spinach, poultry, pigs, Atlantic salmon
and seabream aquacultures - will, first, enable CIRCLES to increase knowledge on the importance of food system
microbiomes as determinants of productivity, quality, safety and sustainability. This discovery phase will nurture the
design and implementation of food system-specific microbiomes-tailored circular actions. Relying on an integrative
usage of different Smart Microbiome (SM)-modulators, circular actions aim to optimize the microbiomes of food
systems, from farm to fork, for an overall improvement of food system performances. The effectiveness of actions
will then be tested in the labs in the field. This real-world validation phase will allow CIRCLES to translate the project
results into concrete products, applications, procedures and tools, ready to be exploited and communicated to penetrate the EU market.

Goals

Increase knowledge on the importance of food system microbiomes as determinants of productivity, quality, safety and sustainability.
Design and implement food system-specific microbiomes-tailored circular actions.
Optimize the microbiomes of food systems, from farm to fork, for an overall improvement of food system performances.
Conceptualize and create smart microbiome-food systems for the several food chains, defined as food systems with optimized microbiome configurations.

Start date of activity

01/11/2018

Keywords

microbioma, salute, ambiente marino

Last update: 07/06/2025