Thematic research areas
Bio-discovery, Uses and Technologies
Objective
As part of the Amazon region and the Guiana Plateau, French Guiana has very specific environmental and social characteristics within the French region as a whole. In this context, it is necessary to find ways of reconciling economic development, biodiversity conservation and recognition of local knowledge and practices.
The BUT axis contributes to the discovery of original, applied solutions to local problems and issues, based on local resources. It brings together multidisciplinary skills in
- forest sciences,
- materials science
- chemistry of natural substances
- genetics,
- human and social sciences.
The aim of this axis is to study the way in which ecosystem services, i.e. the benefits derived from the ecological functions of ecosystems for mankind, are or can be put to use in French Guiana.
The focus is on food, cosmetics, insecticides and pharmacological products, as well as the organic and inorganic materials that may result.
Research activities
Its main activities are organized around :
- Bioprospecting for resources, materials and biomolecules of interest, and the necessary acquisition of fundamental knowledge about their availability, quality, biological activities or technological properties;
- The search for new approaches and technologies based on this knowledge to promote the sustainable development of innovative products and ensure optimal diversification of resources;
- Integration of the sectors studied within the Guyanese socio-ecosystem.
Highlights
2024 - Innovation awards CIBIG, Maëva Leroy, 80PRIME ValoBoisRond
2024 - Patent application filed on behalf of the University of Guyana for Lily Walter's work
Earthen building materials offer a low-carbon footprint solution for construction, but their poor water resistance is holding back their adoption by the construction industry. The addition of biopolymers can reinforce this resistance, but also encourages the growth of mold mycelium, which can affect indoor air quality. However, for applications such as insulation or packaging, the controlled growth of specific mycelia, followed by thermal inactivation, represents a promising approach to creating natural, water-resistant materials that preserve air quality.
Building on this knowledge, Lily Walter's work has explored and demonstrated the potential of thermally inactivated mold mycelium to develop biostabilized earth building materials with high water resistance.
Some current projects
[ 2023 - 2027 ] PANTHER² : Thermal panels from the valorization of Residual Wood Resources in French Guiana
[ 2023 - 2026 ] Aquilascent : Elucidating the smell of agarwood
[ 2023 - 2027 ] DOPAMICS : Domestication and adaptation in Neotropical palms - Palm fiber biomechanics variability