Fungi and their enzymes have been applied in a wide range of industries (e.g., food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, agriculture etc.). We work with fundamental and applied studies on filamentous fungi to produce biochemicals (especially organic acids), and feed/food proteins and enzymes. The main aim of our research is to develop efficient biocatalysts for sustainable biotechnological solutions.

The main research areas and activities include:

1. Identification and characterization of filamentous fungi by molecular, biochemical, and physiological profiling.
2. Development and use of genetic tools and systems for efficient metabolic engineering of microorganisms.
3. Protein, metabolic and evolutionary engineering for efficient bioconversion processes.
4. Exploitation of specific renewable feedstocks as substrates for bioconversion processes.
5. Optimization of enzymatic and microbial processes for integration in biorefineries.

Microfungi possess an enormous metabolic diversity, which leads to an equal amount of different - and often unique - products. In addition, microfungi are known to be able to produce enzymes and bioproducts, for example organic acids, in very large amounts and after gene modification of the fungi. We have extensive experience with pathway engineering for production of various organic acids that can be used as platform biochemicals. We furthermore have extensive experience in integrating such production in biorefining concepts. We furthermore work with edible microfungi that produce single cell protein and can be applied to upgrade waste materials into feed or food.

Enzymes are important biocatalysts for sustainable conversion of biomass and other substrates. The research focuses on discovery and production of novel enzymes in microorganisms, especially plant cell-wall degrading enzymes of use in biorefineries. Some of these enzymes has value during on-site enzyme production as part of a bio-refinery and this is intensively researched in our group.