Within the scope of action of the line 3B - Bioresources, Biotechnology, and Bioeconomy - of ISOPlexis, Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Technology, a research has been developed to expand knowledge and promote the bioeconomy or circular economy.
This line of action is part of the Madeira's Regional Strategy for Intelligent Specialization (EREI) for the domains of Agriculture and Biosustainability, and the cross-border strategy for the Macaronesia area.
Within the scope of line 3B, the structuring project Bioecoinova aims to use bio-resources and by-products from agricultural production to develop new solutions of a biological nature, with application in agriculture and/or in the food chain.
This project is part of the "Farm to Fork" strategy of the Ecological Pact (Green Deal) and is aligned to build resilient and carbon-neutral food production systems, through the use and application of non-traditional bioresources, by-products, and agricultural or food waste. Biotechnology and biorefinery are used to add value to these resources or obtain raw materials and substances used in the development of new biological solutions. These solutions include the development of biofertilizers, bioprotective substances, and biostimulants, including their encapsulation (nanostimulants), supplements, and food ingredients. These studies are of enormous importance and timeliness, considering the ongoing climate change and the sustainability of food production chains. These studies are carried out in partnership with several local, national, or international partners, and collaborations with the Universities of the Azores and La Laguna (Canary Islands, Spain), Institute of Natural Products and Agrobiology (IPNA, Canary Islands, Spain), Center of Research in Agro-environmental and Biological Technologies (CITAB), I3N, and Phytoalgae.
Line 3B presents diverse connections and synergies with the other lines of investigation of ISOPlexis, in particular the lines MIA2 and C2DA, as these studies have involved traditional cultures from Madeira, and “endogenous” [regional] varieties and genetic resources, using to the effect of the abundant agrodiversity present in the Region, the resources of the ISOPlexis Germplasm Bank and its Documentation and Information System (SDI).
The investigation of the line 3B and its structuring project Bioecoinova have been developed with funding from the operational programs Madeira 14-20, INTERREG B, PCT-MAC, and Horizonte 2020.
Genotyping aims to identify useful traits and functional markers, related to productivity, quality, and adaptability (tolerance and resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses, control of phenological processes) of crops or biological resources, which can be used in the typing and quality control of varieties, resources and local products, serving to identify genetic material that can be used in crops better adapted to agroecological conditions, including climatic, or other biotechnological applications. These studies involve the use of modern laboratory techniques in molecular biology and biochemistry. These activities are developed alone or in coordination with the lines of Monitoring agrodiversity, Genetic resources for agriculture, and food or Food technology.
Phenotyping aims at the characterization, evaluation, and valorization of regional crops, agro-food products, and biological resources, through the identification of specific characteristics with agronomic, food, or biotechnological potential. One of the major applications of the phenotyping process is in crops, and in the selection and development of new varieties under abiotic stress conditions. To achieve these objectives, in genotyping and phenotyping, we use field, greenhouse, and growth chamber tests under controlled climatic conditions. These activities are developed alone or in coordination with the lines of Monitoring agrodiversity, Genetic resources for agriculture, and food or Food technology.
The activity of this sub-line is directed to the biotechnological assessment and valorization of biological resources, local products, and residues, involving bioprospecting and biorefinery methodologies, biochemical and technological assessment, bioassays, and agronomic tests under controlled conditions. Within this activity, the unit has developed several technological and industrial processes, obtaining patented applications, namely the industrial processing and obtaining of flours from local varieties of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.), which is patented (PT 107526 B). In the scope of this subline, is developed studies for the use of microbiota in the restoration of the productive potential of soils and sustainability of agrosystems, and bioprospecting and biorefinery of bio components and active substances from seaweed and other bio-resources for food (supplements and ingredients) and agriculture (biostimulants and bioprotectors).