What do Human Practices mean to us?
Within our team, we believe that relationships between businesses, students and researchers are crucial in order to achieve a common goal, the development of new techniques, therapies and, in general terms, advances in a specific field. Thus, we have been conscious about the local impact this project would have, affecting from wineries to laboratories, in order to improve the society's health.
We have had established connections with several companies and intellectuals in order to consolidate, implement and announce our project. All these reunions are described in chronological order:
What Will We Do? Brainstorming Stage
Our initial challenge was selecting a topic for our project. We had numerous ideas, perhaps even too many. Synthetic biology encompasses a wide range of aspects, making it difficult to narrow down our focus. We considered continuing the project of our colleagues from the UPNAvarra_Spain team who participated last year; they were working on synthesizing serotonin from by-products of the food industry. Some of our advisors were in that team, but we also wanted to explore other ideas. To avoid embarking on a directionless journey, we chose to seek guidance from several experts in the field, aiming for a clearer understanding.
April 5th, 2023
IMAB Seminary: Sience Students
A few of us had the privilege of participating in a meeting that brought together students, technology companies, and the public sector, including prominent organizations such as Fargor Ederlan Tafalla, Viscofan SA, the National Centre for Technology and Food Safety (CNTA), Lurederra, and the Mancomunidad de la Comarca de Pamplona. This event took place at the Public University of Navarre, where we were immersed in a rich learning experience.
During this gathering, we had the opportunity to engage with local companies, expanding our horizons to have a global perspective on research organizations. We discovered that research is not confined solely to the laboratory; it is also important to take into account different aspects, such as its impact on society and its sustainability for our planet.
One notable highlight of our interaction was a discussion with Elena GascĂłn, the I+D Project Coordinator at CNTA. This dialogue allowed us to exchange ideas related to our iGEM project and explore potential collaborations with CNTA, offering valuable guidance on research project execution.
Furthermore, we benefited from the insights shared by speakers from these companies, who enlightened us on the meaning of working within a corporate environment. They emphasized the importance of values, actions, and the role that students can play in applying their skills and abilities for the well-being of the society.
April 19th, 2023
IMAB Seminary: 3P Biopharmaceuticals
On April 19 of 2023 we attended the seminary âDrug development using Biotechnologyâ by Elena Erroba, Business Development Director of 3P Biopharmaceuticals. 3P Biopharmaceuticals is a leading Biologics CDMO of Pamplona, Navarre, which provides mammalian, microbial and cell therapy services. That's why we thought that listening to Elena Erroba's speech and exchanging ideas would be an incredible opportunity not only to learn about drug development, but also to improve our project.
In this seminary Elena Erroba talked about the issues and keys of producing drugs. We learned how this important company in the sector of Biotechnology works and about the most important steps in order to get a product on the market. After the seminary we had the opportunity to talk with Elena Erroba and had advice that helped us develop our project idea. Knowledge, teamwork and passion were some of the most remarkable topics discussed.
April 26th, 2023
IMAB Seminary: Biotechnology in the agroalimentary industry
On Wednesday, October 26th, we attended the biotechnology seminar in the agri-food industry, specifically on ADM-Biopolis, which was conducted by Professor Daniel RamĂłn Vidal, a professor of food technology at the University of Valencia. He is the scientific director and CEO of the biotechnology company BiĂłpolis SL, specializing primarily in the industrial production and purification of microorganisms and metabolites, as well as the company Lifesequencing SL, which provides access to massive genomic sequencing platforms with expertise in data generation, analysis, and interpretation.
The seminary focused on the role of biotechnology in innovation in the food industry, as the increasing global population has led to new needs, such as the production of sufficient food, resulting in a water crisis, primarily due to livestock and agriculture, with the latter alone consuming 87% of the world's total water usage.
We attended the seminar without having yet chosen a project, and it was of great help in making our decision. The speaker explained the case of obtaining vanilla essence, a process that required a significant amount of water but could be reduced by 99.9% through a biotechnological process. It was sufficient to introduce five genes from the vanilla genome into the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to enable it to produce vanilla in a fermenter. This gave rise to the idea of producing resveratrol while reducing its water footprint.
So now What?
Indeed, we had a clear vision of various aspects, including the local business landscape. It was evident to us that in our project we wantded to address topics like the environment and the circular economy, which had been explored by our team members the previous year. However, we also aimed to assign a pivotal role to our region. Drawing inspiration from the essential role of wine and grapes in Navarre's culture, and inspired by last year's team's innovative use of milk whey and broccoli by-products, we decided that our project would focus on revalorizing by-products from the wine industry.
May 4th, 2023
MEETING WITH MOAs
We had the opportunity to talk with Susana SĂĄnchez GĂłmez,the CSO and co-founder of MOA Foodtech, which recieved an award for being the best European start-up in alimentation. This meeting was very significant for our project as it not only guided us toward a more professional approach but also boosted our creativity, allowing us to come up with some new ideas.
June 16th, 2023
VISIT CNTA
We had the privilege of visiting CNTA (National Center of Food Technology and Safety) in the town of San AdriĂĄn. Our tour was guided by InĂ©s EcheverrĂa, the Director of Research, Development and Innovation at CNTA. Our primary goal was to learn about the fascinating world of food handling and the utilization of by-products. And who better to learn from than the experts right here in Navarre?
As we explored the impressive facilities, Inés shared with us that they, too, manage wine byproducts for various projects. Witnessing their innovative work firsthand was very inspiring. It was an incredible opportunity to connect with like-minded people who shared our passion for exploring these intriguing concepts.
Meeting Fellow iGEMers!
Getting to know people who, just like us, are going through the iGEM experience, is something that could help us understand different situations we may encounter. After all, we are all in the same boat, and if we can also attend presentations by experts, even better!
July 1st and 2nd, 2023
II INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF ATG SYNBIO SPAIN (BARCELONA BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH PARK)
On July 1 & 2, four members of the team (Josu Zamacola, Sergio Maraña, MarĂa RoldĂĄn and JĂșlia UnzuĂ©) attended the II International Congress of ATG SynBio Spain, at the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park. In this meeting, entitled ATG: Building the Spanish Synbio Ecosystem, they had the chance to get to know leading experts in synthetic biology, STEAM entrepreneurship and social innovation. The attendees witnessed the latest trends and discoveries accomplished by different startups and enterprises, such as Ginkgo Bioworks, Promega, Bayer, Imperial College London or ValleyDAO.
A wide range of topics were addressed, including the future and possibilities of synthetic biology, the development of a biofoundry, fundraising in synbio, the decentralisation of science, the establishment of workflows with young companies and academic partnerships, as well as the value of communication, openness and transparency. Several panel discussions about synbio's potential and ethics, how to embrace its risks, and the creation of the Spanish SynBio Ecosystem, were also carried out. Furthermore, the congress provided an opportunity for a meet-up of some iGEM teams (Barcelona-UB 2023, NavarraBG 2023, UPNAvarra-Spain 2023 and UCM 2024), and various iGEM startups, with the valuable participation of iGEM vice president Dorothy Zhang.
Potential Chemical Complications
After visiting CNTA we started to learn more about how to handle grape by-products, and it made us understand that it wasn't as simple as it may have appeared at first. Thus, we began making connections with different chemistry experts to learn more about the constituents of grapes and their by-products. Among these, there was Resveratrol, an antioxidant that had piqued our interest for some time due to its diverse range of properties.
August 1st, 2023
MEETING WITH PURIFICACIĂN FERNĂNDEZ
PurificaciĂłn Fernandez is a professor at the University of La Rioja. She belongs to the chemistry department, specifically in the field of analytical chemistry. Since 2005, she has been involved in several research projects related to grapes and wine within the field of chemistry. We thought it was a good idea to reach out to her, as we believe she is a highly experienced individual in this sector, and her assistance would be very valuable for our project.
During our meeting we discussed the localisation of resveratrol in grapes, which helped us in the selection of the by-product. She talked to us about resveratrol and its different conformations, which made us think about which conformation would be the most bioactive resveratrol. Finally, we discussed the precursor we intended to use in resveratrol synthesis, p-coumaric acid. We discussed different methods of extraction of this precursor and the difficulties that each method might have. Finally, we talked about how resveratrol biosynthesis in bacteria might differ from conventional chemical synthesis.
August 2nd, 2023
MEETING WITH ALFONSO CORNEJO
After a productive day in the laboratory, we had a brief encounter with Alfonso Cornejo. During this encounter, we discussed the potential hydrolysis of wine by-products with the goal of separating coumaric acid from tartaric acid, as these compounds are often found tightly bound together. Alfonso suggested that a basic hydrolysis in an aqueous solution, coupled with the addition of an acid, might yield the desired results. However, he emphasized the necessity for further research to confirm this approach's effectiveness. We highly value these interactions with chemists, as chemistry serves as the foundation for numerous scientific disciplines, including biotechnology.
August 7th, 2023
MEETING WITH LUIS GONZAGA
We had a meeting with Gonzaga Santesteban, agronomist engineer of our university, head of the research group "Advanced Fruit and Viticulture", and expert professor in Viticulture in the department of Agronomy, Biotechnology and Food of the same university.
We had the opportunity to explain him our project and ask him about ways of obtaining wine by-products with the presence of p-coumaric acid. Gonzaga first explained to us the different by-products of the wine industry that contain resveratrol and p-coumaric acid, telling us about those with a higher percentage, such as grape skins. He also told us about the process by which these by-products are obtained, explaining the different ways we could use to obtain them (wineries and distilleries), the differences and implications of each, and gave us a selection of local and national wineries that we could contact and that he knew. Finally, he gave us a series of tips regarding the way we should contact the companies, forms of contact and formulas or terms to avoid.
The meeting with Gonazaga was enriching and a magnificent opportunity to continue expanding our project; also a way to improve our skills in contacting companies, getting autonomy of such tasks; and allowed us to get to know the world of the wine industry better.
August 11th, 2023
MEETING WITH IRENE ESPARZA AND NEREA JIMĂNEZ
We met with two expert chemists in resveratrol and recovery of antioxidants from grape stems from our university. This meeting was indeed of vital importance, as it involved highly renowned scientists in their field who had conducted various research related to the extraction of phenolic compounds from wine. Research in this field was pivotal for the wine industry and understanding the health benefits associated with moderate consumption of this antioxidant.
The experienced scientists provided us with valuable knowledge and insights that had a significant impact on our work or industry. This included more efficient extraction techniques for solid fermentations (such as red grape skins, stems, wood, and pomace), ways to enhance the quality of extracted phenolic compounds, and even new discoveries on how to analyze these compounds through methods like drying and cooling or freeze-drying.
It was important to make the most of that meeting to learn from their expertise and contribute to the advancement of research in this field. Opportunities for collaboration in future projects emerged, and connections were established that benefited both parties. In summary, that meeting represented a valuable opportunity for the exchange of knowledge and collaboration in the world of phenolic compound research in wine.
But Where will we Find these By-Products?
After talking so much about wine by-products we wanted to know how were they being managed in Navarre, and hoped to secure materials for future experiments. That's why we decided to visit Agralco. We also wanted to know more about other ways of visioning science, so we attended an event related to gastronomy.
August 12th, 2023
STARS, GASTRONOMY AND MATHEMATICS' EVENT
We visited the charming village of Ujué in Navarre, known for its fine wines and the Spanish classic 'migas' dish. Our purpose was to attend the 'Stars, Gastronomy, and Mathematics' event, which offered a variety of activities and talks.
During the event, we learned about AI-driven diet customization apps, the effects of gluten-free diets for non-celiac individuals, human dietary evolution, and the adaptation of dog breeds to changing human diets, amongst many other interesting topics.
These insights served as a reminder of how significant our food choices are in our daily lives. It's interesting to see how what we eat can have such a big impact on our health. This aligns with our mission to help people by offering health-beneficial compounds like resveratrol.
Recognizing the importance of diet not only underscores our mission but also highlights the importance of making informed food choices. By making compounds like resveratrol available, we hope to enable people to make healthier dietary decisions and enhance their overall well-being.
August 31st, 2023
VISITING AGRALCO
We visited Agralco Cooperative, specialized in the management of winemaking by-products. They process 60,000 tons of grape pomace (the solid fraction of grapes left after pressing for winemaking) and 20,000 tons of lees (the liquid fraction resulting from wine settling after fermentation) annually at their facilities. We thought that by talking to them, we would learn a lot about the foundation of our project, the byproducts of wine production, and that's exactly what happened. It's a very broad and intricate topic, but thanks to them, we were able to uncover various matters that we didn't understand. Overall, we left with a much clearer understanding.
Venturing into Entrepreneurship
From this point onward, we began to contemplate how we could take our project a step further. How could we make the project more accessible to people? Addressing local issues is a fundamental concept in our project. The wine industry in Navarra is closely linked to the rural areas in the southern region. And who better to assist us than someone from a village in the southern part of Navarre? Someone from Buñuel, in 'La Ribera'.
September 8th, 2023
Conversation with Lola, a senior resident from Buñuel, a village situated in southern Navarra.
Interviewer: What do you believe is one of the existing issues in the rural areas of Navarre, like Buñuel?
Lola: Well, one of the significant issues we face in places like Buñuel is the fact that young people tend to move to the cities in search of better opportunities, leading to the abandonment of smaller rural towns, which are often referred to as ghost towns. This exodus has resulted in a decrease in the rural population and an aging population. People no longer frequent the local bars, many establishments have closed down, and only on weekends do they open because there are not enough customers or staff. Buñuel feels somewhat lifeless.
Interviewer: Why do you think that this happens?
Lola: Living in the village is quite enjoyable, in my opinion, but not everyone shares this sentiment. The primary issue is the lack of employment opportunities. Youngsters don't have many options here, so they leave for the big cities where they can pursue education and a more promising future. For instance, the daughter of a friend of mine had to leave due to a lack of opportunities, and that's a classic example of a "brain drain." The fundamental problem is the scarcity of job opportunities. If there were more job openings, people would want to stay. Unfortunately, we lost a significant factory, which added to the decline.
Interviewer: How do you think that these issues could be solved?
Lola: The removal of the windmill factory was deeply felt because it used to be very profitable. In the past, there was more life in the village. The lack of businesses means people are reluctant to stay; they leave. I believe that by showcasing the beauty of villages and all the different opportunities that exist here, people might develop a deeper appreciation for rural life and be more inclined to stay. It's not just about tending to cows and crops, which are great jobs, but there's much more to it.
Interviewer: Do you know something about our project?
Lola: Yes, I've heard about your project. It was quite emotional for me to see it in the newspaper. A friend read about it to me and all of my friends (Lola is the grandmother of Xavier).
Interviewer: Is there a way in which our project could help with this problem?
Lola: Wine has been an integral part of Navarre's history since the time of the Romans, and my village, Buñuel, even has ruins of a Roman winery. Winemaking is part of our DNA and plays a significant role in our cultural heritage. Bodegas (wineries) are vital in Navarre, culturally speaking. Your project could potentially assist bodegas, although not every rural area has wineries.
Interviewer: Do you think we could somehow incorporate the project into rural areas without wineries?
Lola: Well, that would certainly breathe new life into these areas. Bringing your project to Buñuel, for example, to produce resveratrol, could be very beneficial.
Interviewer: Do you think this could also provide new opportunities for scientists? Instead of going to laboratories in cities, they could stay in rural areas.
Lola: I believe that this approach could indeed encourage many people, including scientists, to stay in rural areas.
This prompted us to contemplate engaging in discussions with wineries and other experts regarding the potential for cooperation, all in the interest of revitalizing rural areas and motivating the youth.
September 14th, 2023
VIVID PROJECT
Luar, project technician, presented today the VIVID project, focused on the local/social problems of a wine village, San MartĂn de Unx. Their aim is to fight against rural depopulation and for this purpose they generate innovative cross-cutting projects. The aim is to attract young profiles to provide a generational replacement for farmers, but VIVID is much more than that, they seek to create a rural innovation laboratory around wine, viticulture and depopulation through two lines, in which they have developed numerous projects. The line that fits us best is the incubator line, which provides professional development opportunities for young people and provides financial support and mentoring throughout the process. To motivate these projects, they offer free maintenance, as well as other activities such as 'rural erasmus'.
September 20th, 2023
VISITING BODEGAS OCHOA
On September 20th, we had the opportunity to visit Bodegas Ochoa, in Olite (Navarra). Bodegas Ochoa is a family winery with a winemaking tradition dating back to the 19th century. Founded in the 1990s by Javier Ochoa, former leader of the Navarra Viticulture and Oenology Research Institute (EVENA) between 1981 and 1992, it is currently managed by his daughters Adriana Ochoa, responsible of winemaking, and Beatriz Ochoa, who oversees sales. This winery is a benchmark model of organic viticulture, where tradition and innovation merge to produce high quality wines, while prioritising respect for the land and the environment.
Winemaker Adriana Ochoa gave us a very interesting guided tour of the winery's facilities, during which we were able to see a yeast multiplier bioreactor, the different fermentation and processing tanks and the barrels for storing the wine, among other things. In addition, the expert took an interest in our project and gave us, on behalf of the winery, samples recently collected in the field for our experimental analyses, as well as several bottles of wine. It was a very enriching experience, which allowed us to visualise how a winery works, as well as to fully understand the winemaking context of our resveratrol biosynthesis project.
Rendezvous with our Peers
We had the opportunity to reunite with our colleagues from the Navarra Biogalaxy team, providing us with a valuable occasion to share our progress and new ideas. After the reunion we were eager and determined to do our very best!
September 23th, 2023
NAVARRA BIOGALAXY
We aimed to gain a local perspective, so on September 23rd, we dedicated a day to meet with our peers from another iGEM team in our region: Navarra Biogalaxy. During our gathering, we exchanged ideas and explained our projects. They generously shared their experiences from previous iGEM competitions, making it an incredibly enriching experience for us.
Our meetup left us even more motivated and eager to participate in the upcoming Grand Jamboree. Notably, the Navarra Biogalaxy team consists of high school students, allowing us to see the final stretch of the competition from different viewpoints.
The project they are working on involves genetically modifying plants to serve as CO2 sensors. In today's pandemic world, maintaining proper air quality has become paramount for our safety and well-being. This innovative approach to address a pressing issue impressed us greatly.
Through this exchange, we had the opportunity to learn from one another, gaining fresh insights into the realms of synthetic biology and innovation. It reinforced our sense of community and purpose within the iGEM competition, reminding us of the collaborative spirit that drives scientific progress.
Now we were determined to find ways to make our product have an impact on society, so we explored methods to bring our product to market.
October 23rd, 2023
MEETING WITH NUCAPS
Nucaps is an European company based in Navarra where they offer a new encapsulation technology for the industrial development of nanocapsules and biocapsules for bioactives and probiotics. The capsules are made from natural proteins and, therefore, biodegradable. Moreover, this company's technological capability allows for adaptation to a wide range of substances and applications.
We had the privilege of visiting the impressive facilities of NUCAPS, a leading nanotechnology company in Navarra and internationally. During our visit, we had the opportunity to engage in an enriching conversation with Dr. Ana L. MartĂnez-LĂłpez, who shared her extensive experience in the field of nanotechnology applied to ingredient encapsulation. Her passion and expertise left us deeply inspired and provided a clear vision for the future of our project, Resvinolife.
Dr. MartĂnez-LĂłpez opened our eyes to the possibilities of using NUCAPS' technology to market the resveratrol we synthesize in our laboratory. Through encapsulation with a Zein matrix, we could elevate the quality and efficacy of our product to exceptional levels. This encapsulation technology has the potential to improve the stability and bioavailability of resveratrol, which is crucial in the supplements and nutrition industry.
October 25th, 2023
We had the privilege of attending an inspiring talk at Universidad PĂșblica de Navarra on biotechnology in mushrooms for a sustainable future, led by Dr. Yoichi Honda from Kyoto University. Dr. Yoichi Honda specializes in molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry of wood-decaying fungi, as well as in the development of bio-pharmaceutical products using a fungal host system. He also conducts research on genome editing and analysis of edible mushrooms, along with the development of environmental interface technology with filamentous fungi. His expertise in the field is truly impressive. We're grateful for his willingness to share his knowledge. Biotechnology in mushrooms holds enormous potential for creating a more sustainable world.
October 26th, 2023
With just a few days left before our presentation at the international iGEM exposition, we wanted to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Chair of Local Sustainability and NILSA - Navarra Local Infrastructure S.A. for their generous support. Thanks to their sponsorship, we had the opportunity to make our journey to Paris possible.
As a gesture of our gratitude, we wanted to contribute to a symposium on sustainable drainage in Navarra, actively participating in the management, organization, and administration of the event. This allowed us to closely interact with the speakers and attendees, gaining valuable insights into the logistics of such gatherings. It was an incredibly enriching and rewarding experience.