Irish biotechnology company BioAtlantis is to lead a €1.7m research project that will aim to validate natural alternatives to the use of in-feed growth promoting antibiotics in the agricultural sector, a practice that was banned by the EU in 2006.
BioAtlantis will lead a consortium of EU firms and universities in the two-year Thrive-Rite project, with the aim of validating four natural alternatives to the use of in-feed growth promoting antibiotics. If the research proves successful it is hoped that this will reduce the incidence of diseases such as salmonella and E.coli.
The project has been awarded €1.7m under the EU’s Research Framework programme (FP7). lt will follow eight years of collaborative research between BioAtlantis and the Agriculture & Food Science Centre at University College Dublin.
The Tralee, Co Kerry-based BioAtlantis specialises in the research, development and manufacture of plant biostimulants and animal prebiotics. In 2010 the company received a €750,000 investment from the Bank of Ireland Kernel Capital Fund.
BioAtlantis employs 15 people and has a processing facility in Kanturk, Co Cork.
