BioActive Local Resources (BALR)

Project Overview: BioActive Local Resources (BALR)

Our team is pleased to present our innovative research proposal under the Horizon Europe Cluster 6 framework: "Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment." Our project focuses on the exploration, characterization, and development of bioactive ingredients from local, sustainable sources with significant health-promoting potential.

Core Research Focus

We are investigating indigenous plant and microbial resources to identify and develop:

Novel bioactive compounds with microbiome modulatory effects

Targeted nutraceutical formulations with potential anticancer properties

Sustainable extraction and processing methodologies to maximize bioactive preservation

Expected Contributions and Innovations

Our multidisciplinary approach brings together expertise in biotechnology, natural product chemistry, nutrition science, and clinical research to deliver:

Identification of previously uncharacterized bioactive compounds from local biodiversity

Development of standardized, reproducible extraction protocols optimized for bioactive preservation

Comprehensive characterization of microbiome modulatory mechanisms and pathways

Preliminary evidence for anticancer potential through in vitro and preliminary in vivo models

Circular economy approaches to utilize extraction by-products

Alignment with Cluster 6 Objectives

This project directly addresses key Horizon Europe Cluster 6 priorities by:

Supporting the transition to sustainable food systems through valorization of local bioresources

Contributing to biodiversity preservation through sustainable harvesting practices

Promoting rural development and employment through local resource utilization

Enhancing European competitiveness in high-value bioactive ingredients

Delivering innovative solutions for preventive health approaches

Impact and Benefits

Our research aims to create significant impact through:

Evidence-based bioactive ingredients for preventive health applications

New economic opportunities for rural communities through sustainable resource utilization

Reduced environmental footprint compared to conventional extraction methods

Knowledge transfer between academic and industrial partners

Potential for follow-on clinical studies and commercialization pathways

Consortium Composition

Our consortium brings together complementary expertise across the research-to-application pipeline, including:

Academic research groups specializing in natural product chemistry and bioactivity screening

Biotechnology companies with extraction and formulation capabilities

Clinical partners for preliminary efficacy evaluation

Local producer associations ensuring sustainable sourcing

We look forward to discussing our approach in detail and exploring collaboration opportunities with the Cluster 6 community.