University of York researchers secure funding for bioactives and anaerobic digestion

In the United Kingdom, two research projects at the University of York have received funding as part of a £42 million program aimed at collaborating with industry partners to develop sustainable technologies for healthcare, agriculture, cosmetics, and wastewater treatment.

Working alongside specialty chemical company Croda Europe, Professor Ian Graham from the University’s Centre for Novel Agricultural Products will receive funds for his work with bioactives for boosting performance of new medicines, increasing food production, and reducing the use of ingredients in cosmetics derived from unsustainable sources. “This funding will enable us to develop sustainable production platforms for bioactive chemicals from plants that have the potential to replace petrochemical-derived products across a range of industrial sectors,” Professor Ian Graham said in a statement issued by BioYorkshire, a public-private partnership that brings together some of the UK’s leading science and industrial people and organizations.

In a separate project, Professor James Chong from the University’s Department of Biology will collaborate with Yorkshire Water Services to evaluate how groups of microorganisms respond to design and process engineering in wastewater treatment. The project aims to create digital models that improve anaerobic digestion, a process where bacteria break down organic matter, including animal and food wastes, in the absence of oxygen.