Austria–Ethiopia Collaboration: Bridging Traditional Knowledge and Indigenous Fermentation for Enhanced Nutraceuticals from Medicinal Plants

Cooperating countries: Ethiopia and Austria

Coordinating institution: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Philipp Lawrence Fuhrmann philipp.fuhrmann@boku.ac.at 

Partner institutions: Addis Ababa Science and Technology University

Project duration: 

Budget: EUR 39.320

Abstract: 

Medicinal plants native to Ethiopia, with a long history of use in traditional healthcare, present a unique reservoir of bioactive molecules suitable for nutraceutical applications. The exploitation of these resources is currently constrained by suboptimal bioavailability and the absence of reproducible bioprocessing strategies. Grounded in this indigenous knowledge, this project will set up a project to study collaboratively targeted microbial fermentation strategies that enhance bioactivity by systematically harnessing autochthonous microorganisms isolated from traditional Ethiopian fermentations (e.g., Tella) and plant surfaces, thereby aligning microbial capabilities with the unique chemotypes of local flora. In a collaborative Austria–Ethiopia partnership, strains will be isolated, characterized, and screened for enzymatic activities that facilitate beneficial biotransformations. On a long term, beyond the scale of the Africa Uninet Project, this project aims to develop optimized pilotscale fermentation protocols evaluating biomolecules using LC-MS/MS metabolomics and targeted bioassays to validate functional enhancement. This strategic partnership facilitates knowledge exchange, with Austrian institutions contributing precision fermentation expertise and advanced analytical capabilities, while Ethiopian partners provide medicinal plant access, deep-rooted traditional knowledge, and microbial resources. The project upholds ethical standards through Prior Informed Consent (PIC) and Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT) with local knowledge holders and engagement. Using existing infrastructure, we aim strengthening research capacity through joint training and mobility of young, particularly female, researchers. Expected deliverables include a report on potential microbial strains suitable for intended biotransformation, working protocols on fermentation workflows, and a coauthored publication, which ultimately should lay the foundation for sustainable local value addition and research capacities. By ethically integrating indigenous knowledge and biological resources with modern biotechnology, the project lays a foundation for policy engagement and future commercial development and research expansion.