Work Packages
Work Package 1: Identification of drought stress-adaptive genes via analysis of environmental aDNA
Work Package 1 aims to identify drought stress-adaptive genes via analysis of environmental aDNA. Specifically, the following objectives are foreseen:
Objective 1.1: To elucidate microbial taxa and functional genes (specifically for EPS, osmoprotectants, extremozymes, heat-shock proteins) from aDNA metagenomes that may have played a role in adaptation to historical climate change and to make these sequences available for genetic engineering into platform bacterial hosts for bioaugmentation applications.
Objective 1.2: To select genes (up to 5 per functional group) from these ancient metagenomes that may be engineered into heterologous hosts for production of novel bio-based chemicals.
This WP is led by AWI and also involves the expertise of ULSTER and DTU consortium partners.
Work Package 2: Expression and application of functional genes at lab-bench scale (for bioaugmentation and bioproduction)
Work Package 2 aims towards expression and application of functional genes at lab-bench scale (for bioaugmentation and bioproduction). Specifically, the following objectives are foreseen:
Objective 2.1: To genetically engineer genes from archaic metagenomes, identified in WP1, into platform heterologous hosts for producing organisms used in bioaugmentation to improve resistance of feedstock crop plants to climate change and make available marginal land for feedstock production.
Objective 2.2: To genetically engineer genes, identified in WP1, into heterologous hosts for the production of novel bio-based chemicals.
This WP is led by DTU and also involves the expertise of HWU, UPAT and AWI consortium partners.
Work Package 3: Bio-augmentation for drought tolerance and impact on natural microbiome
Work Package 3 aims to develop a bio-augmentation strategy for drought tolerance and impact on natural microbiome. Specifically, the following objectives are foreseen:
Objective 3.1: To test the effectiveness of bioinoculants to establish and persist in the soil under drought conditions and improve plant growth using model plant species and soil types relevant to MALs.
Objective 3.2: To verify the impact of the introduction of new microorganisms in the resident microbial community and their interactions.
This WP is led by BCE and also involves the expertise of HWU consortium partners.
WP3 will up-scale production for bioaugmentation, characterize different bioaugmentation strategies in controlled environment chambers and transfer promising strategies to biosafety approved greenhouse
Work Package 4: Scale up production of bio-based molecules in engineered bacteria
Work Package 4 aims to scale up production of bio-based molecules in engineered bacteria. Specifically, the following objectives are foreseen:
Objective 4.1: To produce sufficient quantities of the bioaugmentation engineered microorganism(s) for microcosm experiments in WP2.
Objective 4.2: To produce and downstream process bio-based chemicals from engineered microorganisms produced from WP1 and WP2.
This WP is led by HWU and also involves the expertise of ULSTER, UPAT and DTU consortium partners.
Work Package 5: Assessment of produced bio-based molecules
Work Package 5 aims to assess safety as well as various structural/ functional characteristics and bioactivities of the produced bio-based molecules for their development into industrial applications. Specifically, the following objectives are foreseen:
Objective 5.1: To evaluate the toxicity/eco-toxicity levels of bio-based molecules.
Objective 5.2: To determine the structural features and properties of the bio-based molecules.
Objective 5.3: To evaluate the functional characteristics of the bio-based molecules relevant to their potential performance towards niche industrial applications.
Objective 5.4: To evaluate various bioactivities relevant to niche industrial applications.
Objective 5.5: To evaluate the efficacy of bio-based molecules in end-user applications.
This WP is led by CING and also involves the expertise of UPAT, DUTH, ETS, MLK, BIOFAB and HWU consortium partners.
WP4 and WP5 will deal with the scaling-up of bioprocesses and include downstream processing and characterization of novel bio-based compounds of industrial interest
Work Package 6: Legal, regulatory, lifecycle assessment, socio- and techno-economic evaluation analysis
Work Package 6 aims to perform legal, regulatory, lifecycle assessment, socio- and techno-economic evaluation analyses. Specifically, the following objectives are foreseen:
Objective 6.1: Initial assessment of the legal and sustainability evaluation of processes and products.
Objective 6.2: Final assessment of the legal and sustainability evaluation of processes and products.
This WP is led by OMNIA and WU and also includes the input from all consortium partners.
Work Package 7: Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation
Work Package 7 aims to communicate, disseminate and exploit all project outcomes. Specifically, the following objectives are foreseen:
Objective 7.1: Internal and external dissemination through project website.
Objective 7.2: To raise awareness among the scientific community, all key stakeholders and general public.
Objective 7.3: To communicate the vision, goals and results of the project with target groups throughout its lifetime.
Objective 7.4: To facilitate and define the transfer mechanisms of best practices to external stakeholders while making all policy advice relevant.
This WP is led by CTA and also includes the input from all consortium partners.
Tolerate management structure
Work Package 8: Project management
Work Package 8 aims to manage the TOLERATE project into the successful delivery of all its objectives. Specifically, the following objectives are foreseen:
Objective 8.1: To efficiently disseminate and exploit all project results.
Objective 8.2: To establish an efficient management scheme in order to ensure the fulfilment of the project’s scientific and valorization objectives.
This WP is led by CING and also includes the input from all consortium partners.