Highly Accurate Genome Sequencing of red perilla
for the Development of New breeds
With YANMAR Holdings Co. , Hiroshima Univ.
In recent years, initiatives to realize environmental friendly "sustainable food production" have been made both domestically and internationally. Agricultural and food waste (unutilized organic matter), which is currently disposed of by incineration or landfill, contains nutrients necessary for crop cultivation, so it is important to use microbial power to break it down and convert it into a valuable resource in terms of food loss and the cost rising of chemical fertilizers.
There are various studies in both Japan and overseas on methods to reuse unused organic materials, but many issues remain to be addressed, including the improvement of processing capacity, further functional improvement of post-processing products, and the establishment of an evaluation system.
PtBio, in collaboration with Hiroshima University and agricultural machinery manufacturer, YANMAR Holdings Co., Ltd., is analyzing the bacterial flora*1 of fermented food waste and other materials through metagenome analysis. We aim to effectively utilize and add value to unused organic materials, which will lead to food production based on resource recycling.
*1 Bacterial flora: Information about microorganisms, bacteria, and their genome sequences, which exist in a certain environment.
Exploring new possibilities through metagenome analysis
Metagenome analysis is a technology to elucidate the species, new genes and functions of organisms that exist in a certain environment by obtaining DNA (genome) derived from all organisms that make up the environment.
PtBio uses long read sequencers to precisely analyze not only the genus but also the species level, and work on microorganisms that contribute significantly to specific functions.
Expectations for the realization of resource-recycling food production
The cost of disposing of general waste in Japan exceeds 2 trillion yen*2, 40-50% of which is thought to come from food waste*3. Therefore, we believe that there is great demand for effective utilization and value-adding of food waste.
With this initiative, we will not only compost food residues, but also work to promote resource-recycling agriculture by preventing pests and diseases, reducing chemical fertilizers, and promoting plant growth.
*2 From the Ministry of the Environment in 2020.
*3 From the Japan Food Ecology Center.
