The Tunisian biotechnology sector has taken a significant step forward with the inauguration of a 150-liter pilot fermentation unit at the Institut supérieur des sciences biologiques appliquées de Tunis (ISSBAT). This unit is part of the AviBiocin project, which seeks to develop bacteriocins as an alternative to antibiotics in poultry farming. The project is a collaboration between ISSBAT, the Université Laval, and several international scientific partners.
The AviBiocin project has made notable progress in its research phase, with the isolation and characterization of certain bacteriocins and demonstrated efficacy in trials on chickens in experimental settings. An in vivo trial was conducted in a Poulina-owned poultry farm in December 2023, involving over 1,000 chicks fed with different diets, including those containing bacteriocins. This cooperation with an industrial actor is a significant signal for technology transfer.
However, despite these promising results, there is still a considerable gap between experimental success and industrial adoption. The pilot unit's primary goal is to bridge this gap by scaling up bacteriocin production and testing its feasibility in real-world poultry farming conditions. The project's next phase, funded at 1,595,200 Canadian dollars and lasting 34 months, aims to confirm results on an industrial scale.
The project's leader faces the challenge of transitioning from a laboratory result to a reproducible process. The stakes are high, as the economic viability of the project depends on its ability to be scaled up and adopted by the poultry industry. While the scientific community has shown interest in bacteriocins as a potential solution to antibiotic resistance, their industrial application remains uncertain.
The industrialization of the AviBiocin project will be a crucial test of Tunisia's research capabilities and its ability to transform scientific innovation into a transferable process. The project's success will be measured not only by the quality of its laboratory results but also by its ability to reproduce and apply them in real-world industrial conditions.
The use of bacteriocins in poultry farming has the potential to significantly reduce antibiotic use in Tunisia. According to the project's partners, this could have a substantial impact on public health and the environment. However, further research and development are needed to ensure the safe and effective use of bacteriocins on a large scale.
As the AviBiocin project moves forward, it will be closely watched by stakeholders in the Tunisian biotechnology sector. The project's outcome could have significant implications for the country's agricultural industry and its efforts to promote sustainable and innovative practices.
Key points
- The AviBiocin project's pilot fermentation unit has a capacity of 150 liters.
- The project has received funding of 1,595,200 Canadian dollars.
- The project's duration is 34 months.
