At Madeinplant, leader in the development of biotechnology tools and the implementation of new genomic technologies (NGTs), we firmly believe in sustainable plant-based production. With this commitment, we are collaborating with the National Agri-Food Technology Center (CTAEX), Idoasis 2002 S.L., Olivos de Badajoz, and the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plants (IBMCP) in the AGROFACTORY project—an innovative initiative shaping the future of sustainable industrial agriculture. This project is supported by a €590,381.88 budget, co-financed at 80% by the European Union through the Strategic Plan of the CAP – FEADER.
New opportunities for agricultural development: The potential of biofactory tobacco
The declining competitiveness of traditional herbaceous crops has jeopardized the viability of many agricultural enterprises, contributing to rural depopulation in various regions of Spain. A prime example is traditional tobacco cultivation, which not only faces profitability challenges common to other crops but also increasing stigmatization due to its conventional uses. This situation calls for viable and sustainable alternatives.
Biofactory plants offer a high content of value-added compounds. These crops not only allow the extraction of valuable biomolecules, but also enhance profitability through biorefinery-based biomass utilization strategies.
European leadership in biofactory crops
Spain is a pioneer in Europe in the development of biofactory crops based on tobacco plants. Currently, two advanced varieties have been developed:
- Tobacco accumulating anatabine, a natural alkaloid with anti-inflammatory properties, developed by CSIC researchers through CRISPR genome editing as part of the European Newcotiana project.
- Tobacco accumulating thaumatin, a plant-derived, non-caloric sweetener, produced by Nambawan using genetic engineering.
Both biofactory tobacco varieties have been successfully cultivated in Spain for two consecutive field trial campaigns, demonstrating their safety and productivity under tested conditions.
The AGROFACTORY project: Towards the commercialization of biofactory tobacco
The primary goal of the AGROFACTORY Operational Group’s innovative project is to optimize cultivation practices and processing strategies for these new biofactory tobacco varieties, aiming for full utilization and commercial scalability.
To achieve this goal, the project has outlined the following specific objectives:
- Enhance genomic annotation quality of Nicotiana tabacum to ensure traceability of cultivated plants.
- Develop strategies for the integral utilization of thaumatin-producing tobacco.
- Establish full utilization systems for the anatabine-rich variety.
- Implement specific traceability systems for NGT-derived tobacco crops.
A decisive step towards the future of agriculture
AGROFACTORY marks a milestone in agricultural transformation, embracing a new vision where biotechnology and sustainability merge to create economic opportunities and support rural development. Madeinplant reaffirms its commitment to innovation in plant biotechnology, continuously seeking sustainable solutions to address challenges in the sector.
With AGROFACTORY, we take a decisive step forward in implementing Europe’s first biofactory crops, positioning Spain at the forefront of the agriculture of the future.
