Project description DEENESFRITPL Prebiotic application in livestock production systems Increasing food safety and public health concerns over antimicrobial use in livestock is putting an economic strain on the agricultural sector. For instance, understanding the functions of the rumen microbiome is crucial to the development practices that support efficient global food production from ruminant animals, specifically cattle and sheep. The EU-funded RUMIC project will investigate the prebiotic functional enhancement of rumen microbiomes. Prebiotics function by modulating the gut microbiome of ruminants towards improved metabolism of feeds, exclusion/mitigation of pathogens and overall animal health. Using new methods in molecular ecology, analytical chemistry, bioinformatics, and super-resolution and live-cell imaging, project work will provide evidence-based solutions for rumen microbiome enhancements. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Dr. Greta Reintjes proposes to work with Dr. Wade Abbott at the Lethbridge Research and Development Centre of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, to investigate the Prebiotic Functional Enhancement of Rumen Microbiomes (RUMIC). Ruminates, specifically cattle and sheep, are significant contributors to food production systems worldwide, with the EU alone producing 7 million tons of beef per year. This major agricultural sector faces significant economic obstacles due to increasing food safety and public health concerns over antimicrobial use in livestock. RUMIC aims at addressing these concerns by investigating the promising strategy of prebiotic application in livestock production systems for improved animal health and production. Prebiotics function by modulating the gut microbiome of ruminants towards improved metabolism of feeds, competitive exclusion or mitigation of pathogens, and enhanced overall animal health. RUMIC will employ novel methods in, molecular ecology, analytical chemistry, bioinformatics and super-resolution and live-cell imaging to i) visualise and quantify the uptake of prebiotics by rumen isolates, ii) to culture-independently analyse the effect of prebiotics on simplified artificial rumens, and iii) to isolate and characterise microorganisms with specific carbohydrate degrading potentials to discover novel metabolic pathways and enzymes, with the overall goal of providing evidence-based solutions for rumen microbiome enhancements. RUMIC will facilitate a mutually beneficial, interdisciplinary exchange of scientific skills and knowledge between two leading research institutes in Canada and Germany. Furthermore, it will provide a unique research platform for Dr. Reintjes, an early career researcher, to pursue an independent research project, enabling the acquisition of new knowledge, improved communication skills, establishment of new collaborations, and widening her career perspectives to the academic and industrial sector. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencesanalytical chemistrynatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopysuper resolution microscopynatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculescarbohydratesagricultural sciencesanimal and dairy sciencedomestic animalsanimal husbandrynatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiology Keywords Microbiome prebiotics glycan metabolism Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2018 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2018 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV Net EU contribution € 251 434,56 Address HOFGARTENSTRASSE 8 80539 Munchen Germany See on map Region Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 251 434,56 Partners (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Canada Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address Baseline road, 1341 K1A OC5 Ontario See on map Activity type Public bodies (excluding Research Organisations and Secondary or Higher Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 164 031,36