Non-conventional Yeasts

Yeasts Yarrowia lipolytica and Debaryomyces hansenii are definitely some of them. The University of Environmental and Life Sciences in Wrocław, together with the Skotan company, are carrying out the project “The Use of Y. lipolytica and D. hansenii yeast, enzymes and killer toxins for obtaining substances used in industry and agro-techniques". On Friday, 26th September, representatives of Wrocław research centers and Skotan met in order to discuss further stages of completing the project.

“Micro-organisms have a huge biotechnological potential, including yeasts, and in particular unconventional yeasts which have attracted a lot of attention in recent years,” said Dr. Marek Szołtysik, a project leader from the Department of Animal Products Technology and Quality Management. “Research on this group of micro-organisms is being conducted currently in many research centers all over the world, and the results obtained are often a source of a commercial success,” he added.

Skotan , which is a consortium member, has been conducting such research on Yarrowia lipolytica yeasts since 2007. The research was initiated in collaboration with the University of Environmental and Life Sciences in Wrocław.

“Scientific outcomes and the biological activity of the produced yeasts have opened a wide spectrum of new research projects involving Skotan and their partners in the global trend of research on the industrial use of yeasts,” said Marek Pawełczak, President of the Board of Skotan. The main addressees of the project are food, fodder, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. There is also a plan of obtaining strong biological plant protection products.

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The foundation of the project “The Use of Y. lipolytica and D. hansenii yeast, enzymes and killer toxins for obtaining substances useful in industry and agro-techniques" was the research began by Professor Maria Wojtatowicz from the Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology and Professor Józefa Chrzanowska from the Department of Animal Products Technology and Quality Management.

The project, conducted in a consortium of the University of Environmental and Life Sciences in Wrocław and Skotan , is co-financed from the funds of the European Regional Development Fund under the Operational Program Innovative Economy 2007-2013. The total value of the project amounts to over 10 million PLN, including 3.5 million contribution from Skotan S.A.

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