Fungal microbiology research business Myconeos, based at Pioneer Group’s BioCity Nottingham, are pleased to share that they have been successful in their Smart grant application from Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency. Smart grants are highly competitive, with only the very best game-changing and disruptive ideas being successful. Innovate UK awards less than 10% of applications received.

Their £400k project will deliver new Penicillium strains optimised for mould-ripened plant-based cheese manufacturing. Existing commercial Penicillium strains optimised for dairy milk frequently give poor results on plant-based substrates, producing high levels of mycotoxins, driven by the relatively high carbohydrate content of plant-based substrates (as compared to dairy milk). This limits the quality and variety of vegan cheeses available.

This is an unmet need that Myconeos with its pioneering natural breeding technology will address. These strains will exhibit higher cellulase and amylase activity (for plant and starch-based substrates) and higher protease activity (for nut-based substrates) to create higher-quality mould ripened vegan cheeses. The project outputs create an unparalleled opportunity to expand the mould ripened plant-based  cheese manufacturing industry.

Dr. Jacek Obuchowicz – CEO of Myconeos comments – “I’d like to thank Innovate UK for recognising Myconeos’s potential.“