About the DISCO project

Project Sponsor: Part funded by the EU's Seventh Framework Programme for research and technological development (FP7).
Project Title: Targeted DISCOvery of novel cellulases and hemicellulases and their reaction mechanisms for hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass

Purpose and significance of the project

The aims of the DISCO project are to develop more efficient and cost-effective enzyme tools to produce bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass, and understand how these enzymes work. By exploiting the natural diversity of microorganisms, our aim is to find new enzymes able to break down cellulose and hemicellulose more efficiently. Systems for industrial enzyme production will be developed, and the project will demonstrate proof of concept in a pilot study.

DISCO is a collaboration between research institutes, universities and industrial partners, all of which are seen as leaders in their particular field. Drawn from across Europe and Russia, the partners will bring together their expertise to tackle the important challenge of developing sustainable renewable fuels. Lignocellulosic biomass is produced in abundance within the EU, so its efficient conversion to biofuel would reduce the EU's dependence on imported oil.

The Consortium

The project partners are: Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT), Wageningen University, Institute of Food Research, University of Helsinki, Institute of Biochemistry (INBI), Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Dyadic Nederland BV, Biogold OU, G.R.Wright & Sons Ltd, SEKAB E-Technology and Cooperatie Cehave Landbouwbelang U.A.

Project Website

www.disco-project.eu

Who to contact for further information:

Professor Keith Waldron
Institute of Food Research
Norwich Research Park
Colney
Norwich
NR4 7UA
UK
Phone: +44 (0) 1603 255000
Fax: +44 (0) 1603 507723

E-mail: keith.waldron@ifr.ac.uk

Sustainability in the Food Chain Exploitation Platform