FermenTwin Project Launch: A Fusion of Microbiology, Technology, and Taste

Published: Jan 25, 2024 by FME Lab

Today marked the exciting kickoff of the FermenTwin project, funded by INRAE DIGIT-BIO metaprogram and coordinated by Guillaume Gautreau, an innovative venture set to develop a food microbiota digital twins of fermented vegetable juices.

The meeting was a vibrant exchange of ideas, bringing together a diverse group of experts and enthusiasts. Post-discussion, the attendees had the opportunity to indulge in an array of fermented juices, including carrot, beetroot, and cabbage, offering a firsthand taste of what the FermenTwin project aims to enhance.

The highlight of the day was the tour of the mini-biofermenters, developped by Cyprien Guerin and Pierre Nicolas, a peek into the advanced technology that lies at the heart of the project. These mini-biofermenters are a crucial element in the FermenTwin initiative, providing a controlled environment for studying and optimizing the fermentation process.

From “synthetic” to defined microbial communities for clearer terminology

Stéphane Chaillou participated in a joint reflection with a group of international researchers, coordinated by the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), on the terminology used to describe certain microbial communities. The collective of experts proposes replacing the term “synthetic community” (or SynCom), sometimes perceived negatively, with “Defined Microbial Community”.

Harnessing gut microbiome diversity for next-generation fermented foods

On June 5, 2026, Julien Tap participated in the INRAE-Tokyo NODAI Joint Symposium on Fermentation and Food Bioscience. This online event brought together researchers from INRAE and the Tokyo University of Agriculture to discuss fermentation microbiology, food bioscience, taste, and microbiome-based approaches to health. More than 100 participants attended the symposium, most of them Japanese students, highlighting the strong interest of the next generation in fermentation and microbiome science.

DOMINO 3rd annual meeting in Madrid

After three years, the #DominoEU project has reached full speed, with significant results across all project objectives. The three-day meeting provided an opportunity to review the very busy year of 2025 and the many key findings that can be leveraged in the coming months.