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Laura Carroll, Assistant Professor at the Department of Clinical Microbiology at Umeå University, receives 6 MSEK for research within diary microbiology.

ImageIngrid Söderbergh

It feels amazing!

How does it feel to receive the Formas grant?

“It feels amazing! We applied to Formas last year but were not selected, so receiving the grant this year is especially exciting.”

“A large part of my PhD research focused on dairy microbiology, particularly the genomics of spore‑forming microorganisms involved in milk spoilage. That is why I am especially enthusiastic about this project. It gives me the opportunity to return to this research area, but now using novel single‑cell methods developed by our team here at Umeå University.”

What problem does the project address, and why is milk spoilage such an important area of research?

“Food waste represents a massive environmental and economic burden. Nearly one third of all food produced globally is affected by food loss or waste, corresponding to estimated global annual economic losses exceeding one trillion US dollars. A significant portion of this is due to microbial spoilage, where microorganisms cause food to deteriorate in terms of taste, smell, or appearance. Dairy products, and milk in particular, are especially susceptible.”

How will you approach the research in this new project?

“In this project, we are addressing milk spoilage using a data‑driven precision approach, based on a novel single‑cell metagenomic sequencing method developed by our team. Using this method, we will generate large volumes of genomic data from the microbiome of fluid bovine milk.”

“These data will be used to identify biomarkers, such as specific microbial species, strains, or genes, that can predict whether a batch of milk is likely to spoil during or prior to consumer storage. In the longer term, we aim to use these single‑cell‑based biomarkers to develop rapid and cost‑effective tests for the dairy industry.”

What does “maximum resolution” mean in practice, and why is single‑cell metagenomics a breakthrough for this field?

“Previous approaches to studying the microbial flora of bovine milk have primarily relied on so‑called bulk methods, where DNA from all cells – both microbial and bovine – is analysed together. This makes it difficult to determine which DNA originates from which organism.”

“With single‑cell metagenomics, we can instead link DNA to individual cells, allowing us to study individual bacteria at a level of detail that was previously not possible. By tailoring the method specifically to fluid bovine milk, we can also track how microbial spoilage develops over time at the cellular level and identify early indicators of milk spoilage – before the product reaches retailers or consumers, when producers still have the opportunity to intervene.”

How might the results be used in practice?

“Our hope is that these methods will eventually serve as decision‑support tools for food producers, for example in determining whether a batch of milk should be released, discarded, or repurposed. They may also contribute to more accurate best‑before dates and to the development of targeted interventions that reduce food waste.”

Approximately 2.8 million tonnes of milk are produced annually in Sweden.

ImageRobert Harding