FermenTwin
INRAE DIGIT-BIO
Description
FermenTwin : Using digital twins to predict the evolution of food microbiota during vegetal fermentation
The rising popularity of fermented vegetable juices for their taste, nutritional benefits, and potential probiotic qualities has led to an increased focus on understanding and improving their production processes. Our project seeks to deepen the understanding of these processes and improve industrial production efficiency and quality.
To achieve this, we will develop a fermentor digital twins - virtual models that replicate the fermentation process - to predict the behavior of microbial communities in real-time. This approach involves mathematical modeling to forecast changes in the microbial community and metabolism, especially in response to environmental shifts.
The project involves a collaborative effort with several partners:
- Guillaume Gautreau and Cyprien Guérin from INRAE MAIAGE unit are working on metagenomic data and developing mini-bioreactors for continuous microbial culture.
- Béatrice Laroche and Lorenzo Sala contribute to mathematical modeling of microbial dynamics and digital twin design.
- Étienne Dervyn, expert in genomic evolution in continuous microbial cultures.
- Simon Labarthe and Clémence Frioux provide expertise in mathematical modeling of microbiome metabolism, drawing from their recent work on a digital twin model for cheese fermentation.
This project aims to set a new standard in fermented vegetable juices production, focusing on quality and efficiency, by integrating cutting-edge digital and microbial technologies.
FermenTwin is funded by INRAE DIGIT-BIO
Related news
Focus on Microbial Ecology Modelling at the NEM days meeting in Rennes
May 06, 2025
The French NEM (Nutrition & Microbial Ecosystems) network hold its annual meeting this last two days (5th – 6th of May) in Rennes. Julien Tap, researcher from the FME lab presented the first results of his Ferment du Future SynthPlex project and how Engineering food microbial consortia can be performed using microfermentors to reveal strain epistasis. With the Support of Holoflux and Digit-Bio INRAE Metaprogram, He also co-organized with Guillaume Gautreau from the MaIAge Unit a specific workshop on modelling of microbial ecosystems.
FermenTwin Project Launch: A Fusion of Microbiology, Technology, and Taste
Jan 25, 2024
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.