Food system innovations and climate change - microbial game-changers

Microorganisms, though invisible to the naked eye, play a vital role in agriculture, aquaculture, and environmental sustainability. In this seminar we will present and discuss three food system game-changers that NMBU is working on. 

With our global food systems facing urgent challenges - from producing healthier, more sustainable plant- and animal-based foods to reducing greenhouse gas emissions - this seminar will uncover how tiny life forms hold the key to driving big changes in our food systems.

We welcome everyone— students, professionals and curious minds —to a full day of inspiring presentations and discussions.

Where: Litteraturhuset i Oslo

When: April 7th, from 9:00-16:00

Program

In the morning session, speakers will explore how microbial innovations are transforming the food systems, culminating in an engaging panel discussion. 
The afternoon session offers a deeper dive into cutting-edge microbial technologies, including insights from the 3D-omics project, followed by an informal workshop.

9.00: General Session

• Welcome by Sigrid Gåseidnes, Dean of The Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science 
• Keynote: Kim Viggo Weiby (Animalia) and Angela Schwarm (NMBU) - The how, what and why of Bovaer, a direct-acting methane inhibitor being fed to dairy cattle in Europe: How it was developed, what impact it can have, and why industry is using it. 
• Lars Bakken (NMBU) - Manipulating the soil microbiome for a better environment.
• Paula Varela Tomasco (Nofima, NMBU) - Consumer attitudes towards cultured meat and precision fermentation. 
• Christopher Snyder (NoMy) - Microbial protein for the people: creating a circular food system with the power of fungi

10.45: Break

11.00: Panel discussion 

• Paula Varela Tomasco (Nofima, NMBU)
• Kim Viggo Weiby (Animalia)
• Hanne Fjerdingby Olsen (NMBU)
• Harald Carlsen (NMBU)
• Ingrid Kleiva Møller (Fremtiden i våre hender)

Moderated by Andrew Kroglund

12.00: Lunch 

12.45: Technical session 

• Sabina Leanti La Rosa (NMBU)- The need for high-resolution gut microbiome characterization for sustainable food production. 
• Elisabeth Hiis (NMBU)- Reducing farmland N2O emissions with carefully selected bacteria. 
• Live Hagen (NMBU)- Feeding methane-reducing seaweed to Norwegian dairy cattle: potential and pitfalls. 

14.15: Break

14.30: Informal Workshop 

Roundtable discussion with speakers and mingle. 

16.00: End of seminar

The seminar is organized by the NMBU sustainable food systems arena, and the EU project 3D-omics. 

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under grant agreement number No. 101000309.