New ‘Tomatoponics’ project aims to bring back flavour to hydroponic tomatoes
A new interdisciplinary research grant has been awarded to Professor Tom Gilbert and colleagues from Aalborg, Aarhus and Copenhagen University to run an ambitious new project aimed at transforming the flavour of hydroponically grown tomatoes.
Funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation through its Exploratory Interdisciplinary Synergy Programme, the project titled: “Tomatoponics: Harnessing Genome-Microbial Interactions to Enhance Fruit Flavour” seeks to tackle a longstanding challenge in sustainable agriculture: why hydroponic fruits often lack taste.
Hydroponics is widely regarded as essential for future food security due to its efficient use of water and space. However, consumers frequently perceive its produce as less flavourful than traditionally grown crops. Professor Gilbert’s team aims to change that by combining cutting-edge approaches from plant genomics, microbiology, computational biology, and sensory science.
Uncovering flavour-driven genotype-microbiome pairings
The research will involve growing diverse tomato varieties in digitally monitored hydroponic systems while introducing carefully controlled microbial communities to the plant roots. By analysing how these microbiomes influence the chemical composition and ultimately the flavour of tomatoes, the team hopes to uncover the biological mechanisms behind taste.
Advanced techniques such as metagenomics, metabolomics, and genome editing will be paired with sensory testing by trained panels and consumer surveys. The goal is not only to understand flavour at a molecular level but also to align scientific findings with real-world preferences.
Representing true synergy
The Novo Nordisk Foundation seeks with this programme to strengthen the synergy between researchers, across disciplines and organisations. “This project represents a true synergy of disciplines, emphasizing that only by integrating biological data with consumer insight can researchers develop predictable, flavour-optimised crops.” says Tom Gilbert
If successful, Tomatoponics could pave the way for a new generation of sustainable produce that does not compromise on taste - bringing flavour back to hydroponic farming while advancing climate-resilient agriculture.
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Professor Tom Gilbert