Valuable natural products from plant waste

How can plant residues be transformed into valuable active ingredients? The DiP-PhenoPren project is developing a unique combination of biochemistry, artificial intelligence and biotechnology for this purpose. New active ingredients for pharmaceuticals, medicine and cosmetics are to be derived from lignin and apple pomace by enzymes. This creates sustainable alternatives to chemically synthesized active ingredients, green chemistry, so to speak.

At Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, a digital platform is being developed that revolutionizes the identification and design of enzymes. With the help of machine learning, the enzymes can be specifically optimized so that they produce high-quality natural products from plant residues.

A special focus is on practical application: The enzymes developed are to be used in biotechnological processes in order to produce valuable active ingredients in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way. Partners from industry are helping to make the technology usable for specific production processes.

DiP-PhenoPren thus not only strengthens Saxony-Anhalt’s position as an innovation location for sustainable biotechnology, but also creates new economic prospects in the region. At the same time, the project enables the environmentally friendly use of plant side streams, reduces waste and strengthens the regional bioeconomy. The combination of digital enzyme optimization and industrial biotechnology makes the region a pioneer for the bio-based value creation of the future.