The HoloFood consortium consists of 11 partners across 6 countries. We are a mix of academic institutions, research centres and industry representatives. Our Work Packages are built dynamically and cohesively together with the ultimate goal of creating a Holo-omic solution for sustainable food production.
HoloFood Consortium Map with logos of the partners
With over 40,000 students and more than 9,000 employees, the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) is one of the largest institutions of research and education in the Nordic countries. The Center for Evolutionary HoloGenomics (CEH, Globe Institute, SUND) and the Department of Biology (SCIENCE) were part of the HoloFood consortium and together hold extensive experience in microbiome and genomic related research projects.
HoloFood was coordinated by the University of Copenhagen. All genetic and metagenomic data was generated at state-of-the-art laboratory facilities set up at the CEH. Data integration, interpretation and output as well as all outreach activities for HoloFood were coordinated at UCPH.
Main points of contact: Professor Tom Gilbert (project coordinator) and Associate Professors Morten Limborg and Antton Alberdi (scientific managers). All located at the Center for Evolutionary HoloGenomics at the Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen (UCPH)
The EHU team is based at The Genomic Resources team (GR), a Basque Government Consolidated Research Group from the Department of Genetics in the Science and Technology Faculty at the EHU. They are experienced in DNA variation: statistical analyses of genetic markers, and bioinformatics analyses of DNA sequence data are key foci of the group. Their contribution included different subsets of bioscience, from Animal Conservation and Genetic Improvement Programs, to Forensic Genetics and Precision Medicine, through Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture. Within HoloFood they were active in the experimental planning and setup, data generation and interpretation of the chicken experiments and contributors to the Holo-omic framework.
Main contact person: Professor Andone Estonba, University of the Basque Country (EHU/UPV)
The Holomuseomics research group at the NTNU uses novel genomic tools to answers exciting questions concerning the evolutionary processes responsible for biodiversity, both past and present. Their role within HoloFood was to lead and contribute to the success of the HoloFood salmon experiments, data generation and analysis.
Main contact person: Professor Mike Martin, Holomuseomics Research Group (NTNU)
The Institute of Animal Nutrition investigates animal nutrition in six main research areas. The main emphasis is on the digestive physiology of animals, the effect of feed additives on the growth and health of animals, as well as the hitherto little explored field of nutrition effects on the immune system of domestic animals. The role of intestinal bacteria is investigated in the field of gastrointestinal microbiology using molecular methods. Possible alternatives to the use of antibiotics in food are explored in the groups working on pro-and prebiotics. Within HoloFood the team focused on designing, setting up and contributing to data generation and data interpretation for the chicken project, as well as data integration within a holo-omic framework.
Main contact person: Professor Jürgen Zentek, Institute for Animal Nutrition, Freie Universität Berlin (FUB), Germany
The European Bioinformatics Institute at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) helps scientists realise the potential of ‘big data’ in biology by exploiting complex information to make discoveries that benefit mankind. EMBL's missions are to provide freely available data and bioinformatics services to all facets of the scientific community in ways that promote scientific progress; to contribute to the advancement of biology through basic investigator-driven research in bioinformatics; to provide advanced bioinformatics training to scientists at all levels, from PhD students to independent investigators; and to help disseminate cutting-edge technologies to industry. EMBL-EBI’s Microbiome Informatics team was a HoloFood partner and involved in analysis pipelines for data analysis and exploration, as well as leading the HoloFood database creation and curation.
Main contact person: Dr Rob Finn, Microbiome Informatics Team (EMBL-EBI), UK
The Institute for Food and Agricultural Research and Technology is a public research institution, part of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Action of the regional Government of Catalonia, Spain. IRTA’s activity on animal science covers animal breeding, animal nutrition and welfare, animal health and aquaculture. In addition, other departments cover expertise in related disciplines: integral organic waste management and food technology, quality and safety.
For HoloFood IRTA Mas Bové - The programme of Animal Nutrition programme led the experimental setup and execution of the chicken trials and contributed their expertise in data generation and interpretation for the holo-omic framework.
Main contact person: Dr Joan Tarradas, IRTA Mas Bové, Spain
The Institute of Marine Research (Havforskningsinstituttet, IMR) is the principal governmental institution in Norway conducting research and monitoring on marine living resources, the marine environment and aquaculture. This includes monitoring contaminants and biohazards in seafood (both farmed fish and wild fish), analysing the level of nutrients in different fish species, carry-over effects from feed to fillets, and health effects of seafood consumption. IMR is owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Trade, and on the basis of best science provides advice to Norwegian fisheries- and food-authorities, informs industry and the general public.
For HoloFood the "Seafood in model systems" research group at IMR contributed towards the salmon trials, providing guidance and expertise in data generation and interpretation for the duration of the project.
Main contact person: Dr Lise Madsen, Department of Seafood and Nutrition (IMR), Norway
Chr. Hansen is a global bioscience company that develops natural solutions for the food, nutritional, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. We have been around since 1874 and have more than 3,000 dedicated employees in more than 32 countries. As a company we aim to deliver innovative natural solutions that advance food, health and productivity for the benefit of us all. We develop and produce cultures, enzymes and probiotics for a rich variety of foods, dietary supplements, animal feed and plant protection. The Animal Health Innovation group contributed towards the poultry research angle of HoloFood as well as the overall Innovation Management of HoloFood.
Main contact person: Dr Dorthe Sandvang, DVM, Head of Poultry Innovation- Animal Health and Nutrition, Chr. Hansen A/S (CH), Denmark
Lerøy Seafood Group (LSG) is the leading exporter company of seafood from Norway, the world’s second largest producer of Atlantic salmon, and the largest producer of Rainbow Trout. The vision of LSG is "Lerøy in every kitchen", and each day supplies the equivalent of three million meals of seafood to more than 70 markets worldwide, as it exports more than 200,000 tons of seafood. LSG is a wholly integrated company, carefully following each step in the production from the salmon egg to finished product, with 14 processing facilities located in different European countries. The Group's core activities also include product development, distribution, sale and marketing of seafood. Its global sales network includes daughter companies in Sweden, Finland, France, Spain, Portugal and Turkey and sales offices in China, Japan and the USA.
Within HoloFood Lerøy's R&D team was contributing in the design, implementation and generation of data for the salmon project as well as examining the commercial impact of a holo-omic framework within aquaculture.
Main contact person: Dr Harald Sveier, R&I management, Lerøy Seafood Group (LSG), Norway
Piast has the equipment, technology and experience, and standards which allow to conduct R&D and implementation of their results on the market (production of innovative and safe products used in animal production). The company has its own chemical laboratories, where constant monitoring and assessing of quality of feed raw materials and final products is held. In addition, the company operates a research center, which holds the status of an experimental unit, which allows the verification of the goals in the design of new and improving existing products, in conditions as close as possible to those of the standard production cycle. Within HoloFood PIAST was actively involved in the chicken project, providing industry expertise and contributing towards the holo-omic framework.
Main contact person: Professor Damian Józefiak, R&D director at PIAST group Poland
The Department of Environmental Science at Aarhus University, Denmark, executes basic and problem-orientated research within organic and physical connections in the environment and within economic, political and social conditions in the interaction between environment and society. The Environmental Metabolomics Laboratory, headed by Dr. Martin Hansen, conducts lab and field experiments at the molecular level, to understand the environmental occurrence, fate and effects of pollutants, such as natural substances, pesticides and medicine residue. Metabolomics studies (the study of the chemical fingerprints left behind after specific cellular processes) are a core discipline at the lab, and are achieved by using state-of-the-art mass spectrometry-based technologies.
Within HoloFood AU conducted metabolomic data generation and analysis for the salmon component of the project and contributed with their expertise in the field towards the hologenomic solution proposed by HoloFood.
Main contact person: Associate Professor Martin Hansen, Department of Environmental Science - Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Aarhus University (AU), Denmark
This project has received funding from the European Unionʼs Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 817729.