Phageguard lands an Eurostars project in cooperation with Nofima and ZHAW

Micreos Phageguard has landed an Eurostars project in cooperation with Nofima and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW).

Project outline

Existing food safety processing aids, although mostly effective, can still not prevent antimicrobial resistance and disease outbreaks. This entails an enormous socio-economic burden due to morbidity, mortality, and product recalls.

Phageguard aims to ensure food safety via bacteriophages (“phages”); which are the natural biological pesticides against bacteria. Phages infect and replicate in specific bacteria, eventually killing them. By choosing phages that specifically target pathogens, but are safe for beneficial bacteria, targeted products can be developed to eliminate harmful bacteria, and prevent foodborne illness.

Traditionally, bacteriophage products are formulated in a liquid form. The Eurostars project aims to convert liquid bacteriophage solutions to powder form, which will enable the application of phages in dry powder products. As a result, we will accomplish a sustainable, effective, and natural inhibition of food pathogens by using advanced bacteriophage technology.

The main results of the project will be a finished technology platform for next generation product formulations. To achieve this, we will select specific bacteriophages and develop prototype products that will be validated for efficiency. in spice mixtures/marinades and dry-salted cold-smoked salmon.

About Eurostars

The Eurostars programme is a funding and support programme, aimed at R&D-performing SMEs that wish to exploit the benefits that come with international collaboration.

Eurostars is a European joint programme, co-funded from the national budgets of 36 EUREKA countries and by the European Union through Horizon 2020. Eurostars has been carefully developed to answer to the specific needs of the R&D-performing SMEs, and targets the development of new products and services, giving easier access to international markets, thanks to the transnational nature of each project consortium.

Eurostars applications pass through a highly-competitive selection process, being scrutinised by a panel of international research and business experts, to ensure that only the best business ideas and strongest partnerships get the support they need.