Wednesday, September 30, 2026

14:30 - 15:15

SPEAKERS' CORNER 2: NICOLÁS ACHÚCARRO

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Details

Imagine a kitchen where tiny, tireless chefs—yeast, bacteria, or fungi—are taught new recipes at the molecular level. That is precision fermentation: a carefully controlled, biology-driven process that programs microorganisms to churn out specific food ingredients, from enzymes and flavor molecules to structurally complex proteins. Using modern genetic and metabolic engineering, these microbial artisans produce high-purity molecules that once came only from animals or cumbersome extraction processes, offering a platform that’s predictable, scalable, and potentially kinder to the planet. One of the clearest and most evocative examples of this approach is the creation of recombinant caseins. Caseins—the alpha, beta and kappa family members that give milk its character—are the architect proteins that assemble into micelles, creating milk’s texture, emulsifying power, and its ability to be turned into curds for cheese. That said, the path from fermenter to supermarket shelf has practical hurdles: regulatory approval pathways, production economics, downstream processing and quality control, supply-chain integration, and consumer acceptance all matter. Overcoming these requires engineering, rigorous testing, smart economics, and clear communication about safety and benefits.

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Speaker