O projektu

The loss of competitiveness of a significant proportion of traditional arable crops is seriously affecting the viability of farms and contributing to depopulation in various rural areas across Spain. Among other examples, a particularly representative case is traditional tobacco cultivation, which, in addition to facing the same profitability issues as other crops, is affected by the stigma associated with its end uses, making its gradual replacement with crops that have a more positive social perception advisable. In recent years, because of research and development efforts in new genetic improvement technologies, highly innovative industrial crops have emerged that promise to provide viable alternatives to the crisis affecting traditional crops. These crops, generally known as biofactory plants, derive their viability from their high content of one or more high-value-added compounds. In addition to extracting the target compound(s), crop profitability can be further enhanced through strategies aimed at the comprehensive use of biomass in biorefinery processes. At European level, Spain is a pioneer in the development of this type of crop, as it is home to two advanced examples of biofactory plants, both based on tobacco. The first is a tobacco variety that accumulates anatabine, a natural alkaloid with anti-inflammatory properties. This variety was developed by CSIC researchers using CRISPR gene-editing techniques within the framework of the European Newcotiana project (newcotiana.org). The second is a tobacco variety developed by the company Nambawan through genetic engineering, which accumulates thaumatin, a plant-derived, non-caloric sweetener. Both biofactory tobacco varieties have been successfully cultivated in Spain for two consecutive growing seasons in field trials, demonstrating the safety of both crops and the productivity of the target compounds under the conditions tested. At this stage, the next steps towards the commercial development of these varieties must be undertaken. This requires progress in scaling up production, testing new locations, and establishing optimal cultivation, processing and traceability procedures. The objective of this project is therefore to make decisive progress towards the commercial development of these new varieties. To this end, two successive growing seasons are planned, aimed at providing the final impetus required for the full implementation of the first biofactory crops in Europe.