Blue Sciences at Wageningen University & Research Centre (WUR) Johan Verreth (prof. Aquaculture & Fisheries, WU) Robert Hall (Dir Centre for Genomic Studies PRI) Willem Wolters (EU Account, Wageningen International)
Profile Wageningen Thematic University Domain: Healthy Food & Environment 1 faculty ( Agricultural and Environmental Sciences ) Ambition: 3d generation research University Research Fundamental Strategic & Applied Knowledge application Academic BSc, MSc, PhD Professional BA, MA Education Post-experience; Life Long learning
Facts and Figures Three pillars: Wageningen University DLO: 9 Research Institutes Van Hall Larenstein Univ. Appl Sci Budget 2008: 675 mlj 6,500 employees >10,000 students (>100 countries) International (25% MSc, 50%PhD) Offices in China and Brazil Food Valley partner Mission: to explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life
Organisation Concern Staff Facility Services Supervisory Board Executive Board Wageningen UR Plant Sciences Animal Sciences AgroTech &Food Sci Environment Sciences Social Sciences University Applied Sc. Wageningen IMARES Univ. Dept (16 Chairs) Univ. Dept (11 Chairs) Univ. Dept 18 Chairs Univ Dept 20 Chairs Univ. Dept (20 chairs) Van Hall Larenstein Wag International Plant Res International PPO Veterinary Instit. Livestock Research Agrotech & Food innovation Alterra LEI Wag Business Schl RIKILT (Food Safety Control)
Strategic Themes 2007-2010 Societally inspired: Bio-based economy (using biomass) Climate & coastal zones (environment oriented) Food, Health and Behaviour (consumer oriented) New expertises Bio-nanotechnology (for food) Systems Biology (i.r.t. genomics) Scales of governance
Wageningen UR in Europe 2008: o 30mlj turnover o 160 projects 50% Th2 KBBE 40% Th6 ENV 1/3 coordinator
The marine domain at WUR Planet Institutions: governance Society Ecosystems: Marine Ecology Fisheries Organisms: Fish, Shellfish Sponges/Corals Algae Marine governance /Institutional change policy Blue Bio-Tech? Cells & Genes Fish Immunology Microbiology Fish Genetics *omics technologies Products & Chains: Seafood Bio-solar products Marine chemistry = accents Community Livelihoods coastal populations Individual: Food safety/marine Toxicology Gen / Molecule
WUR Blue Biotech the green side! Main groups involved: WU-Chair Bioprocess Engineering (prof Wijffels) A&F (Business Unit Biobased Products) PRI (Plant Research International) Main topics: Bio-diesel AND Bio-refinery from micro-algae Seaweed farms (in sea, land-locked..) Use of *omics approaches to generate novel strategies Biofuels, biodiversity screening, vaccines, bioactives / pharmaceuticals
WUR Blue Biotech the green side BioSolar Cells 40 M initiative 2009 2014 (algae / photosynthesis) Microalgae / sponge activities Fine chemicals/ protein / biofuels / pharma Macroalgae activities Sea lettuce Vaccine production Plant factories for fish vaccines -omics applications Metabolomics / sequencing (454) / proteomics
Algae Production And Research Center (AlgaePARC) 6.5 M, construction starts 2010 Objectives: Experience with systems Information for design of full scale plants Comparison of strains, feeds (nutrients, CO 2, sunlight ) Development of a process chain
WUR Blue Biotech the animal/human side! Main groups involved: Dept of Animal Sciences Aquaculture & Fisheries Cell Biology & Immunology Host-Pathogen Interactomics Animal Breeding & Genomics Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology Dept of Food & Agrotech Sciences Microbiology Food Chemistry Product Design & Quality Toxicology Wageningen IMARES ASG (Central Veterinary Institute)
WUR Blue Biotech the animal side! Main Topics: Health & Welfare Feed induced intestinal disorders in fish; Gut health Neuro-endocrinological and molecular genetic regulation of fish immunity Host-Microbe interactions in intestinal mucosa Network mapping of host transcriptome responses to microbes Modeling risks for viral and zoonotic fish diseases Genetics Nutrition & Metabolism Proteomic analysis of feed ingredients and digestion SeaFood Quality & Safety Microbial Ecology
Joint Strategy? 1. Common research strategy? Themes? Position paper? 2. Joint Talents & Topics programme? 3. Sharing infrastructure, research facilities
Thank you!!