FSMMF platform: a tool dedicated to solid 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 has announced the launch of the FSMMF (Solid Fermentation and Metabolism of Filamentous Microorganisms) project, a scientific platform integrated into the support and research unit dedicated to process engineering and bioprocesses. This operation 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 ambition: supporting the transition of industries by developing innovative and effective biological processes that reduce the use of chemical pesticides. The aim is to improve waste biovalorization methods in order to transform unexploited co-products or plant residues into useful and economically valuable resources.

A structuring platform serving regional sectors and transitions

The FSMMF platform was designed to provide the Occitanie region with a shared, structured tool to address a key issue: supporting research, training, and innovation in strategic areas such as agri-food, the recovery of bio-waste and co-products, and biocontrol. The goal is to accelerate the development of concrete and sustainable solutions in order to make better use of available organic resources and reduce the use of chemicals.

The Occitanie Region supports this project, which will provide academic and socio-economic stakeholders with a platform capable of transforming scientific results into operational applications to support the evolution of industrial and agricultural practices, while supporting 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 deployed within the QualiSud joint research unit, under the scientific responsibility of Caroline Strub, with technical responsibility provided by Alexandre Colas de la Noue.

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

Today, the agri-food and agricultural sectors face a threefold challenge: producing better while reducing the environmental impact of their activities, and accelerating innovation to meet societal, regulatory, and economic expectations. The recovery of bio-waste and organic co-products is therefore an essential lever for making production systems more efficient and integrating activities into circular economy approaches.

In this context, solid-state fermentation appears to be a particularly promising avenue. It enables the development of innovative, efficient, and often more economical processes by mobilizing microorganisms capable of transforming solid substrates, particularly those derived from agricultural by-products. It thus opens up significant opportunities, both for the creation of new fermented food products and for the generation of molecules and solutions of agronomic or industrial interest.

Furthermore, the need to reduce the use of chemical pesticides is leading to intensified research and innovation in biocontrol, i.e., biological solutions capable of preventing or limiting pathogen pressure. Certain filamentous microorganisms can be either pests 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 co-products thus opens up significant potential for innovation in the development of 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 fermentation and filamentous microorganisms

The FSMMF project will enable a breakthrough 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 valorization of agricultural co-products and bio-waste by developing biological processing methods capable of converting these resources into useful, value-added products. Finally, the platform will contribute directly to improving knowledge and applications in the field of biocontrol, with a clear goal: to support alternative biological solutions and ultimately contribute to reducing the use of chemical pesticides.

Open to collaboration, the FSMMF platform will also support training by providing students and doctoral candidates with cutting-edge equipment and advanced methodologies in process engineering and bioprocesses. Finally, it will strengthen the interfaces between laboratories, technology platforms, and socio-economic partners in order to promote the emergence of innovations that can be quickly applied in the field.