Biosolutions at SCIENCE
Biosolutions integrates biology and technology to create sustainable solutions to climate and environmental problems using nature's own resources and tools. Read more about our current research projects and study programmes on this page.
At the Faculty of Science, the researchers work in sections and groups with different aspects of biosolutions:
Department of Computer Science And Department of Mathematical Sciences
Department of Food and Resource Economics (IFRO)
Department of Food Science (FOOD)
- Section for Food Microbiology, Gut Health, and Fermentation
- Section for Food Analytics and Biotechnology
- Section of Ingredient and Dairy Technology
Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management (IGN)
Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS)
What are biosolutions?
Biosolutions are sustainable, biological solutions based on nature's own tools. By exploiting bacteria, enzymes and fermentation, biosolutions can replace traditional methods with bio-based alternatives, such as bioplastics, plant-based foods and green fuels.
Denmark's largest knowledge partner
Biosolutions hold great potential for driving the green transition, and Denmark has a global position of strength in the field (IRIS Group, 2021, only in Danish).
The Faculty of Science (SCIENCE) do research and education in the green biosolutions of the future across 11 out of 12 departments. As Scandinavia's largest science education and research institution, SCIENCE works in the entire chain from primary production, the production of new foods to degradable materials and purification of contaminated soil and groundwater through biological processes.
We contribute with solutions and new knowledge in close collaboration with companies and organizations. The University of Copenhagen is part of Alliance for Biosolutions and Lighthouse Project Biosolutions Zealand. We lead in training professionals for the sector (HBC Economics, 2021, only in Danish) and, in close cooperation with local businesses, has established a new MSc in Biosolutions in Kalundborg.
We also conduct research into how we can ensure transparency and clear involvement of the population when new technological solutions and major changes in, for example, our food system occur. This is done, among other things, by researchers' participation in the Danish Council on Ethics and in collaboration with Think Tank Europe in the project Biosolutions 2030.
Biosolutions are nature's own tools
SCIENCE works with biosolutions in four categories:
- Agriculture. For example, developing climate-robust plant varieties, refining animal feed and developing bio-fertilisers and pesticides. The solutions adapt plants to climate change, reduce waste, increase efficiency, and conserve resources.
- Industry. For example, converting biomass to biofuels and bioplastics, producing biocatalysts, and developing degradable materials from renewable sources. The solutions involve replacing petrochemical materials with biological materials.
- Food and ingredients. For example, to produce cheese and beer or ingredients for functional foods using precision and conventional fermentation and microbial cultures. The solutions involve e.g. increasing product quality, producing alternative proteins and increasing the health benefits of foods.
- Environment. For example, cleaning contaminated soil, groundwater, air or water with microorganisms and plants as well as using biological processes to recycle resources. The focus is to promote sustainable environmental practices and reduce environmental impacts.
Benefiting climate, environment, and business
Climate:
- Biosolutions have the potential to reduce CO2-global emissions of 4,300 million tons, equivalent to the entire U.S. emissions in one year (Copenhagen Economics, 2022)
- Investing in plant-based proteins is the most cost-effective way to reduce CO2 emissions (BCG & Blue Horizon 2022. The report can be downloaded here).
Environment:
- By replacing 10% of chemical pesticides with biological alternatives, chemical emissions can be reduced by 250 million kg (Copenhagen Economics, 2022)
- Shifting to plant-based production in Denmark can reduce pesticide use by 50% while simultaneously increasing production (AgriFoodTure 2021. Report can be downloaded here).
Business:
- The biosolutions sector contributes EUR 13 billion DKK to Denmark's GDP and has 7,000 employees (HBC Economics, 2021, only in Danish). The number of employees is expected to double by 2030 (Copenhagen Economic, 2022).
- Biosolutions has the potential to strengthen business development and education outside the major educational cities, e.g. the University of Copenhagen is a partner in Lighthouse Project Biosolutions Zealand.
Degree programmes in biosolutions
Every year, SCIENCE educates around 850 BSc and 1,000 MSc graduates within biosolutions. In 2024, a new MSc in Biosolutions will be launched.
Bioinformatics: Solve specific problems within areas such as health, medicine, food, climate and environment and artificial intelligence.
Biology And Biochemistry: Find solutions to challenges in areas such as climate, biodiversity and human, animal and plant diseases.
Biotechnology: Develop the environmentally friendly solutions of the future, make organisms more resistant to climate change and produce sustainable food and products.
Master's degree programme in Biosolutions: Develop solutions such as bio-based products and methods for recycling resources, e.g. within food production, bioenergy, environmental technology or plant breeding.
Environmental and Food Economy (only in Danish), Agricultural Economics And Environmental and Natural Resources Economy: Solve major challenges within international economics and food policy and shape the basis of environmental and food policy.
Computer science And Machine Learning and Data Science (only in Danish): Analyse large volumes of data which can help solve societal challenges such as health, food production and climate.
Nanoscience: Apply knowledge of how the interaction between chemistry, physics and biology works to produce new solutions such as materials, medicine and much more.
Geography and Geoinformatics and Geology – Geoscience: Apply theoretical and practical knowledge of soil processes to solve problems such as soil contamination and climate change.
Chemistry: Work with solutions to the world's major challenges such as pollution, climate change and food shortages.
Natural resources (only in Danish), Agriculture, Environmental Science and Environment and development: Utilise knowledge about plants, foods, climate, biodiversity etc. to solve multiple problems where nature and people meet.
Nature Management and Forest and Nature Management: Develop and protect the world's forests and nature areas while taking people and their needs into account.
Food Innovation and Health, Food Science and Technology and Integrated Food Studies: Develop the food solutions of the future in relation to taste, health, sustainability, food safety, etc.
Bioentrepreneurship: Acquire knowledge of commercialisation of bioinventions and entrepreneurship.
Physics: analytical and academic skills to work theoretically and practically with solutions to many of the world's problems.
Climate change: Work in a cross-disciplinary manner with solutions within the natural sciences or the broader societal and environmental aspects of climate change.
Here you can read more about our degree programmes.
Research into biosolutions
More than 240 researchers at SCIENCE are studying biosolutions within agriculture, industry, food and ingredient production and climate. Below you can see an excerpt of our ongoing research projects within biosolutions.
Interdisciplinary research into biosolutions
UCPH Green Solutions Centre Conducts research into biosolutions within agriculture, industry, food and ingredients, the environment and the legal frameworks governing the use of biological processes and biotechnology.
Biosolutions in agriculture
Breeding work with plant varieties to mitigate and adapt climate impacts:
- IMFABA (only in Danish): Investigate whether drought tolerance in different lines of fana bean is dependent on root depth and distribution (supported by GUDP).
- DIVERSIFY: Increase the resilience of crops based on cultivation (supported by the European Commission).
- RadiBooster: Develop more robust and climate-secure wheat, forage grass and potato varieties (supported by Innovation Fund Denmark).
- SUSWHEAT: Explore climate resilience of sustainable wheat production (supported by the Independent Research Fund Denmark).
Breeding work with plant varieties to protect them from diseases:
- Disarming the Intruder: Microbial interference with fungal pathogens to promote plant immunity (supported by the Villum Foundation).
- New microbial consortia for control of fungal diseases in cereals (only in Danish, supported by GUDP).
- Foliar biopesticides for protecting wheat against Septoria tritici blotch (Supported by Innovation Fund Denmark).
- INTERACT: Decoding the Rhizosphere interactions with wheat for improved crop resilience (supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation).
Recycle by-products from industry and agriculture:
- ASSEMBLY: Develop environmentally friendly methods for the production and utilization of nanocellulose (supported by Innovation Fund Denmark).
Develop biofertilizers and plant biology products to improve plant quality and yield:
- Rock-P: Rock phosphate as a new high-efficiency fertiliser for cereal crops (supported by the Independent Research Fund Denmark).
- LIPOSOME: Liposome-based leaf fertilisation to increase climate-friendly productivity and quality in high-value crops with resistant hydrophobic cuticles (supported by Innovation Fund Denmark).
- BioComFert: Biocompatible nanofertilisers for targeted delivery and programmed release of essential mineral ions in crops (supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation).
Develop plant-based ingredients and foods:
- PEAS & LOVE: Take advantage of the huge potential of old pea varieties for producing mature peas for human consumption.
- AQRIFood: Promote the quality of plant-based raw materials and ingredients for food applications (supported by Innovation Fund Denmark)
- EcoSap: Evaluate the effectiveness and environmental security of saponins as a new green solution for sustainable food production.
- BOOST: Increase the resilience of organic grain production (supported by GUDP)
Developing the crops of the future:
- Plant Bioengineering: Bridging molecular, agricultural and food sciences to create the crops of the future (supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation).
- REPIN: Rethink Protein-Protein interactions (supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation).
- PRISM: Research centre on proteins (supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation).
Develop and improve proteins:
- Adapting to change: The potential for alternative microproteins (supported by the Independent Research Fund Denmark)
- Smart Protein: Develop future-proof supply chains for proteins (supported by the EU).
- SEED FOOD: Accelerate the transition from animal to plant proteins to sustainable food production and consumption (supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation).
- PLANTCURD: Production of plant-based curd with different cheese-like functionality (supported by the Danish milk levy fund).
- MASSPROVIT: Improve growth and yield and develop technology to improve the bioavailability of proteins and vitamins (supported by the Independent Research Fund Denmark).
- Seedstruction: Demonstrate the potential to extract seed storage proteins using a new, enzymatic approach inspired by seed germination (supported by the Independent Research Fund Denmark).
- SMART PROTEIN: Validate and demonstrate innovative, cost-effective and resource-efficient EU-produced nutrient-rich plants (supported by the EU).
Biosolutions in industry
Converting biomass into biofuels, bioplastics and other renewable materials:
- IEA Bioenergy Task 39: Commercialisation of conventional and advanced biofuels for transport from biomass and other renewable raw materials (supported by the EUDP).
Developing sustainable chemicals:
- Centre for High Entropy Alloy Catalysis (CHEAC): Production of renewable high-value chemicals supplied by electricity (funded by the Danish National Research Foundation).
Biosolutions within food and ingredients
Development of plant-based foods through fermentation:
- FermPro: Sustainable manufacturing of FERMented PROtein ingredients (supported by GUDP)
- PROFERMENT: Solid-state fermentations for protein transformations and palatability of plant-based foods (supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation)
Climate Biosolutions
Capture and use of CO2:
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation CO2 Research Center (CORC): Develop knowledge and technology that can be used to capture and recycle CO2.
- CO2capture: Capture CO2 from exhaust gases using photosynthetic micro-organisms (supported by the Independent Research Fund Denmark)
Featured contributions and interviews about biosolutions