The power of grape extracts: antimicrobial and antioxidant properties to prevent the use of antibiotics in farmed animals

Project Information

NeoGiANT

Grant agreement ID: 101036768

DOI

10.3030/101036768

Project closed

EC signature date 22 September 2021

Start date 1 October 2021

End date 31 March 2026

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy

Total cost

€ 9 332 246,49

EU contribution

€ 8 374 688,42

Coordinated by

UNIVERSIDAD DE SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - NeoGiANT (The power of grape extracts: antimicrobial and antioxidant properties to prevent the use of antibiotics in farmed animals)

Reporting period: 2023-04-01 to 2024-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

NeoGiANT develops and validates innovative natural formulations based on white grape polyphenols for cattle, swine, poultry & fish, considering the whole circle in animal production (feeding, health & reproduction) to reduce the use of conventional antibiotics. This strategy should significantly contribute to the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) derived from the production of animals on farms, by providing an economically viable alternative to the routine use and misuse of antibiotics.
NeoGiANT follows the idea that “prevention is better than cure”. The natural extract activities will be exploited in a synergistic way: as Antioxidant, designing alternative feed additives with eubiotic effects; and as Antimicrobial, proposing formulations as natural therapies for animal production (multifactorial diseases in cows & pigs, enteric diseases in chicks & farm fish), and as alternative preservatives to synthetic ones in semen extenders for AI.
People demand solutions for animals’ health with no side effects for animals or final consumers and environmentally friendly products. NeoGiANT plant origin extracts fulfil these demands. The target products will control diseases of paramount importance in livestock and aquaculture, reducing the emergence of new AMR and existing will be better controlled.
NeoGiANT project fits perfectly with an incremental value chain: includes the valorization of the raw material and the increase in value due to the technological quality of final products, besides the improvement in the image of such products derived from natural sources. NeoGiANT will validate solutions to ensure sustainable food production in the future, considering the increasingly uncertain environmental conditions and move towards resource-smart, climate-smart and eco-healthy production and consumption.
The overall objective is set out in specific objectives: validate an innovative extraction process for bioactive compounds from white grape marc; demonstrate the antioxidant & antimicrobial activities of extracts and formulations; validate feed products with natural eubiotic capacities, treatments for animal infections, and semen extenders to reduce the dependence on antibiotics in artificial insemination. Other cross-cutting objectives include environmental, economic, legal & regulatory aspects of NeoGiANT products, evaluation of business opportunities and a C,D&E strategy that includes, in addition to EU, a replication in Latin America.
In brief, the NeoGiANT strategy is based on preventing diseases, reducing the emergence of new AMR and better controlling existing AMR in the frame of breeding and reproduction of food-producing animals, in line with the "One Health" approach. NeoGiANT aims to contribute to an antibiotic-free environment transition, sustainable food systems and AMR global action plan by collaborating with several EU platforms and H2020 projects.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

A good number of extracts have been developed with different solvents and deeply characterized, including detailed polyphenolic profile. Based on the evaluation of the antibacterial activity and the behaviour of the extracts as active ingredient in the different formulations developed, some have been selected for the design of prototypes and other applications. The initial approach outlined in the proposal -different solvents to tune bioactivities and properties of the extracts- has proved to be realistic and successful. Selected extracts were used for prototype therapeutic formulations and re-evaluated for their antimicrobial activity (after different sterilisation conditions). All formulations were in vitro tested before the in-vivo application. These last trials were successfully carried out during RP2 and final results will be shown in RP3.
Studies in sperm diluents and as feed ingredient for aquaculture are currently being evaluated. The solid extract has already been applied in poultry, cattle and swine feed. The use of liquid extracts was also assessed to be used in poultry. In vivo experiments have already finished or will finish in the coming months and the results will be shown in RP3. Regulatory aspects to register the extracts were considered from the outset, and evaluation as feed additives is in line with EFSA requirements. Sampling design, collection and transport protocols, and microbiota analysis methodologies were agreed upon partners to assess extract effects on gastrointestinal track and immune system. These experiments were also performed in RP2 and the final results will be shown in RP3. In parallel, tasks of WPs involving cross-cutting activities have been developed. The management of the project has been carried out in a conscientious and committed manner, detailing procedures, and maintaining constant supervision in all areas. The LCA study was performed for the extracts and now is ongoing for the products. The IP management guidelines, Management of the Exploitation Plan through the set of the exploitation Board, and collection of results to assess whether they are KETs have started to be implemented. NeoGiANT has participated in a high number of scientific conferences and events within the framework of the Green Deal Food Working Group. 8 scientific publications were published so far: 2 (RP1) & 6 (RP2). Different social media channels were launched, the number of followers is increasing. The consortium is active in participating to national and European events reaching specific audiences and alongside other European projects. The search for specific stakeholders has also begun, and the knowledge transfer strategy in Latin America has already been designed. Finally, ethical aspects related with the project has also been considered.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

NeoGiANT is definitely developing in the right direction. Initial assumptions regarding the selection of the proposed extraction technique have been fulfilled. Multicomponent polyphenolic extracts were obtained from white grape marc by a simple, low-cost and green technique, keeping the excellent bioactivities of the original grape polyphenols. The other 3 lines of innovation (feed, treatments, reproduction) are progressing at a very good rate.
More than 5,500 kg of grape marc were revalorized to obtain bioactive extracts, providing sustainable solutions to promote circularity and reduction in waste. Extracts have proved to be effective natural antimicrobials validated in vitro. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the several formulations developed was also evaluated. Results of in-vivo experiments, finished or about to do so will be shown during RP3. In this way, the main goal of decreasing the dependency on antimicrobials is being focussing. The target health and reproduction products under development are designed to control and prevent many infectious diseases in animal production. Economic and environmental assessment of the prototypes will determine the best options. Participation in cluster events and in events organized by sisters projects during RP2, allowed the generation of synergies and a knowledge transfer to develop a conceptual framework to improve understanding or AMR in livestock systems. NeoGiANT is an active member of the GD-FWG. During RP3 the collaboration networks under a multi-actor approach will be improved, including policy. Several C&D activities were performed and 8 scientific articles were published in Open Access so far.

Summary of NeoGiANT concept and objectives