MAAVi Innovation Center, The Largest Research Center for Biopesticides, Probiotics and Prebiotics in Europe
Change is Here
The challenge of replacing synthetic chemistry without losing productivity and yield pushes our model to the limits and demand us to create a cutting-edge technology center to lead this new era of biotechnology.
We Are Unique
4 natural areas and 4 corresponding laboratories: botany, microbiology, microalgae, and green chemistry. the synergies among these 4 natural areas constitute the heart of a center with over 5000 m2 of infrastructure and over 2000 m2 of greenhouses.
Great Team
Small ideas create important disruptions.
A team of more than 20 researchers, the largest collaborative network of centers such as the CSIC, research groups of national and international universities, public and private organizations in the biotechnology sector, including industry-leading agri-food companies and multinational manufacturers.
Cutting-Edge Technology
The necessity to find alternatives to synthetic chemistry requires us to have the latest technology and be able to increase our R&D team's productivity, boosting our competitiveness in a fast and demanding industry.
An incentive was obtained from the Andalusian Innovation and Development Agency (IDEA) of the Regional Government of Andalusia for a sum of € 13,259,728.95, of which 80 % is co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the implementation of the project "MANUFACTURING PLANT FOR BIOTECHNOLOGICAL PRODUCTS FOR AGRICULTURE" with the aim of achieving a more competitive business network.
Research Areas
MAAVi Innovation Center creates an experience through the five senses to explore every research area: epigenetics, microalgae culture, microbiology, cell culture, fermentation, analytics, formulation, extractions, phytotrons, pests, photobioreactors, industrial processes, probiotic manufacturing, and greenhouses.
Microalgae Cultivation Area
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Microalgae Cultivation Area
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- Recognition of new strains with biopesticide, biostimulant or symbiotic activity.
- Maintenance of a collection of our own cultures.
- Selection of growth mediums.
- Optimization of growth conditions.
- Acquisition of starters for large-scale inoculation.
- Collection of small samples of biomass to use in trials and determine their composition.
Technological equipment:
- PHOTOBIOREACTORS.
- TUBULAR REACTORS of 140 L.
- LAMINAR FLOW CABINET.
Microbiology Area
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Microbiology Area
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- Recognition of new strains with biopesticide, biostimulant or symbiotic activities.
- Maintenance of a collection of our own cultures.
- Trials on antibiotic-activity of extracts obtained from fermentation and of algal origin.
Technological Equipment:
- FERMENTER.
- ORBITAL SHAKER.
- SPECTROPHOTOMETER.
- FLOW CABIN.
Epigenetics Area
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Epigenetics Area
- Development of projects on the use of soil probiotics and prebiotics that improve the chemopreventive properties of food
- Matching of cancer types to specific foods and design of solutions able to increase the preventive action in the development of the disease.
Fermentation Area
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Fermentation Area
- Study of cultivation conditions of all types of microorganisms.
- Selection of growth substrates.
- Production of secondary metabolites applicable to agriculture.
Analytical Area
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Analytical Area
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- Elucidation of new active molecules.
- Quality monitoring of extracts obtained from botany, microalgae, and microbial fermentation.
Technological Equipment:
- SEMI-PREPARATORY HPLC CHROMATOGRAPHY.
- HPLC CHROMATOGRAPHY COUPLED TO MASSES.
- ANALYTICAL HPLC CHROMATOGRAPHY.
- CHROMATOGRAPHY OF GASES COUPLED TO MASSES.
- FLASH CHROMATOGRAPHY UNIT.
- VORTEX
Formulation Area
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Formulation Area
- Stabilization trials of active constituents.
- Physical-chemical stability studies over time.
- Preparation of trial samples for use in greenhouses and fields
Extractions Area I
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Extractions Area I
- Sample classification.
- Grinding and conditioning of biological material.
- Pre-treatment of plant material, partial hydrolysis, among others.
Extractions Area II
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Extractions Area II
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- Extraction trials of various mother cultures.
- Concentration, separation of fractions.
- Fractions generation for bioguiding studies.
Technological Equipment:
- MAGNIFYING LAMP.
- CLEVENGER DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT.
- SOXHLET EXTRACTION EQUIPMENT
- EXTRACTION SYSTEM.
- ROTAVAPOR.
- CENTRIFUGE.
- GROWTH CHAMBER 25ºC.
Phytotrons Area
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Phytotrons Area
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- Small scale trial development on plants in fully controlled conditions, being able to reproduce the conditions of any part of the world; as well as simulating situations of extreme stress.
- Ability to emulate extreme climates, from -5°C to 35°C.
- Humidity levels from 0% to 100%.
- Controlled photoperiod.
Technological equipment:
- PHYTOTRONS.
Pests Area
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Pests Area
- Breeding and maintenance of confined pests.
- Activity trials: Repellency and Lethality.
- Numerous models: Suckers, defoliators, nematodes, bacteria, soil fungi, aerial fungi, among others.
Pilot Plant-Photobioreactor Area
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Pilot Plant-Photobioreactor Area
- Testing at a semi-industrial level the most suitable strategy to produce each type of microalgae.
- Previous steps before industrial scaling.
Industrial Fermentation Area
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Industrial Fermentation Area
- Industrial level scaling of developments previously obtained in laboratory.
- Obtainment of biomass or supernatants with biopesticide, antifungal, biostimulans activity, among others.
- Production of starters in large volumes for large-scale fermentations in solid substrate.
Industrial Extraction and Concentration Area
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Industrial Extraction and Concentration Area
- Large scale extraction of active molecules from vegetal, microbial or algae origin.
- Low temperature concentration of the extractions carried-out or from microbial cultivation media.
Probiotic Manufacturing Area
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Probiotic Manufacturing Area
- Sterile growth medium manufacturing area.
- Sterile inoculation area.
- Growth and ripening area under clean and controlled conditions.
- Yield capacity of over 500,000 liters year.
Greenhouse Area
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Greenhouse Area
- Implementation of several trials on healthy and diseased plants.
- Controlled photoperiod.