In many established microbial production systems, the efficient synthesis of complex biomolecules remains a major challenge. At Fraunhofer IME, we use plants and plant cell cultures as alternative, sustainable production platforms for the generation of high-value proteins—such as pharmaceuticals, enzymes, and antibodies—as well as plant secondary metabolites for the agricultural, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, feed, and food industries.
Within the field of Plant Molecular Farming, we apply both biotechnological and non-GMO methods to harness plant systems as biofactories for the sustainable production of active and valuable compounds. With our broad methodological expertise and extensive know-how, we cover the entire process chain—from production, scale-up, and harvesting to purification and product analysis. Our proprietary technologies, such as the Plant Cell Pack (PCP) system and plant-based cell-free lysates, enable high-throughput screening of product candidates and accelerate bioprocess development. Depending on the specific requirements, we offer solutions ranging from transient or stable plant transformation (e.g., Nicotiana benthamiana and Nicotiana tabacum) and root cell culture establishment to large-scale plant cell production in bioreactors.
We also employ advanced genome editing techniques to precisely modify plant and plant cell metabolism, allowing us to test strategies for improving plant traits and enhancing production efficiency.
From any suitable source plant, we can establish stable plant cell cultures that enable the sustainable production of biomolecules in bioreactors—fully compliant with the Nagoya Protocol and without the use of genetic modification. To make optimal use of light as a cultivation factor, we utilize our innovative LEDitSHAKE technology, which allows us to determine ideal light conditions for plant cell cultures and enhance the productivity of plant-based processes in terms of both biomass yield and specific biomolecule production.
Our Services
- Sustainable production of complex biomolecules in plants and plant cell cultures
- Tailored development of plant cell lines for your applications, with scalable production up to 500 L
- Optimization of plant cell cultures for enhanced biomass, recombinant protein yield, or secondary metabolite production
- Long-term preservation of high-performing cell lines through cryopreservation
Your Benefits
- End-to-end expertise: development, optimization, and scale-up from a single source
- Fast and reliable supply of complex recombinant proteins for your product and application studies
- Flexible and cost-efficient models to optimize your process at every stage of development
- Secure, consistent, and sustainable production of plant-derived ingredients
Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME