FSMMF Platform: a tool dedicated to solid-state fermentation, bio-waste recovery, and biocontrol to reduce chemical inputs

[Press Release] - Published on February 18, 2026 in Press Room, Scientific Appeal

The University of Montpellier announces the launch of the FSMMF project (Solid-State Fermentation and Metabolism of Filamentous Microorganisms), a scientific platform integrated into the support and research unit dedicated to process and bioprocess engineering. This initiative received €642,000 in funding, with €360,200 provided by the Occitanie / Pyrénées-Méditerranée Region as part of the PRIO (Open Research Innovation Platforms) call for projects. The goal: support the transition of agricultural sectors by developing innovative and effective biological processes that reduce the use of chemical pesticides. The goal is to improve methods for the biological valorization of waste in order to transform unused byproducts or plant residues into useful and economically viable resources.

A foundational platform supporting regional industries and transitions

The FSMMF platform was designed to provide the Occitanie region with a shared, strategic tool dedicated to a key objective: supporting research, training, and innovation in strategic sectors such as agri-food, the recovery of bio-waste and by-products, and biocontrol. Objective: to accelerate the development of concrete and sustainable solutions in order to better utilize available organic resources and reduce the use of chemicals.

The Occitanie Region is supporting this project, which will provide academic and socio-economic stakeholders with a platform capable of transforming scientific findings into practical applications to support the evolution of industrial and agricultural practices, while fostering the development of new biological solutions.

The project will run from September 1, 2025, to September 1, 2028. It is coordinated by the University of Montpellier and carried out within the QualiSud Joint Research Unit (UMR), under the scientific leadership of Caroline Strub, with Alexandre Colas de la Noue serving as technical lead.

Major challenges for the agri-food sector, the recovery of bio-waste, and the reduction of chemical inputs

Today, the agri-food and agricultural sectors face a threefold challenge: to produce more efficiently while reducing the environmental impact of their activities, and to accelerate innovation to meet societal, regulatory, and economic expectations. The recovery of biowaste and organic byproducts is therefore emerging as an essential lever for making production systems more sustainable and integrating operations into circular economy approaches.

In this context, solid-state fermentation appears to be a particularly promising approach. It enables the development of innovative, efficient, and often more resource-efficient processes by utilizing microorganisms capable of converting solid substrates derived primarily from agricultural byproducts. It thus opens up significant opportunities, both for the creation of new fermented food products and for the production of molecules and solutions of agronomic or industrial interest.

Furthermore, the need to reduce the use of chemical pesticides is driving increased research and innovation in biocontrol—that is, biological solutions capable of preventing or limiting pathogen pressure. Certain filamentous microorganisms can be either pests that need to be controlled or valuable allies in protecting crops. Whether beneficial or undesirable, their study relies on common tools.  The use of bio-waste and agricultural byproducts thus opens up significant potential for innovation in developing biocontrol solutions, while improving our understanding of the metabolism of unwanted molds and the management of associated risks, such as mycotoxins in sensitive sectors (cereals, processed fruits, and vegetables).

Developing innovative processes using solid-state fermentation and filamentous microorganisms

The FSMMF project will mark a significant milestone in research, innovation, and technology transfer by supporting the development of innovative processes for the production of solid fermented foods and by consolidating scientific and technological approaches that can be leveraged by the industry.

It should also help accelerate the utilization of agricultural byproducts and bio-waste by developing biological processing methods capable of converting these resources into useful, value-added products. Finally, the platform will directly contribute to advancing knowledge and applications in the field of biocontrol, with a clear goal: to support alternative biological solutions and, ultimately, help reduce the use of chemical pesticides.

Open to collaboration, the FSMMF platform will also support education by providing students and doctoral candidates with state-of-the-art equipment and advanced methodologies in process engineering and bioprocessing. Finally, it will strengthen the links between laboratories, technology platforms, and socio-economic partners to foster the development of innovations that can be rapidly implemented in the field.