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The maintenance and restoration of high-quality freshwater and marine habitats is one of the main issues of today. Over the past few decades, the EU has issued several directives with the objective of preventing further degradation of water quality. These directives mandate that all EU member countries maintain and restore the ecological status of all bodies of water to a ‘good’ level. The ecological status of a water body is determined by assessing biological quality elements (BQE), physical-chemical parameters, and hydromorphological quality elements. The evaluation of BQE involves monitoring the presence and abundance of several organismal groups to assess water quality. These groups include phytoplankton, phytobenthos, macrozoobenthos, macrophytes, and fishes.
The goal of the project is to develop non-invasive nucleic acid-based tests for the detection and quantification of specific species or groups of interest with the aim of improving water quality monitoring.
The project “Development of a nucleic acid-based test for the identification of water quality indicator species“, carried out by Labena d.o.o. in partnership with the Institute Ruđer Bošković, is financed by the European Union through the European Fund for Regional Development under the funding programme “Increasing the development of new products and services arising from R&D activities – Phase II” (IRI2).
Project title: Development of a nucleic acid-based test for the identification of water quality indicator species
Reference number: KK.01.2.1.02.0335
Project leader and beneficiary: Labena d.o.o.
Project partner: Institute Ruđer Bošković
Total project value: 3.347.095,56 EUR
EU grant: 2.521.679,20 EUR
Project implementation period: 01/09/2020 – 01/12/2023
Contact: Mario Dananić, mario.dananic@labena.hr, +385 99 7044 700
PROJECT INFORMATION
Ruđer Bošković Institute
In recent years, scientists at IRB have been intensively working on the development of new methods for identifying microorganisms from environmental samples, both at the level of individual cells and total DNA from the environment.
As partners in the project “Development of a test based on nucleic acids for the identification of species that indicate water quality”, they control and validate the results and tests developed by the project holder, and are responsible for the implementation of the classic approach to environmental monitoring by measuring chemical parameters and applying microscopy, and the development of molecular tools for the detection of bacteria and phytoplankton.
A team of IRB researchers and scientists with many years of experience in identifying microorganisms from the environment (Dr. Tanja Vojvoda Zeljko, Ph.D. Maja Marinović (until 5/2022), Ph.D. Nikola Baran (from 9/2022), Jelena Kosanvić, Marin Lovrić , Ivana Puček, Marija Mirosavljević, Andrea Čačković, Nives Matijaković and Damir Kralj) involved in the project is led by Ph.D. Sandi Orlić, senior research associate and expert in microbiology, microbial ecology and ecology of aquatic ecosystems.
MEDIA ABOUT PROJECT
https://www.irb.hr/Novosti/Razvijamo-novi-test-za-utvrdivanje-kakvoca-voda
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS
Hanžek, N., Gligora Udovič, M., Kajan, K., Borics, G., Várbíró, G., Stoeck, T., Žutinić, P., Orlić, S., & Stanković, I. (2021). Assessing ecological status in karstic lakes through the integration of phytoplankton functional groups, morphological approach and environmental DNA metabarcoding. Ecological Indicators, 131, 108166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.108166
Kulaš, A., Gligora Udovič, M., Tapolczai, K., Žutinić, P., Orlić, S., & Levkov, Z. (2022). Diatom eDNA metabarcoding and morphological methods for bioassessment of karstic river. Science of The Total Environment, 829, 154536. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154536
Selak, L., Marković, T., Pjevac, P., & Orlić, S. (2022). Microbial marker for seawater intrusion in a coastal Mediterranean shallow Lake, Lake Vrana, Croatia. Science of The Total Environment, 849, 157859. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2022.157859
Selak, L., Osterholz, H., Stanković, I., Hanžek, N., Gligora Udovič, M., Dittmar, T., & Orlić, S. (2022). Adaptations of microbial communities and dissolved organics to seasonal pressures in a mesotrophic coastal Mediterranean lake. Environmental Microbiology, 24(5), 2282–2298. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.15924
Project title: SoilScanCro – Scanning Croatian Soils with eDNA (PK.1.1.12.0201)
Beneficiary: LABENA d.o.o. za savjetovanje i trgovinu laboratorijske i procesne opreme
Project partners: Labena trgovina, svetovanje in proizvodnja laboratorijske opreme d.o.o., Ruđer Bošković Institute, and Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek – Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek
Objective and brief description of activities: The objective of the project is to develop a comprehensive and innovative solution for faster, more reliable and scientifically grounded soil management in agriculture. The project encompasses the development of three interconnected products and services: the SoilKit kit for standardised soil sampling, the SoilLife service for advanced microbiological soil profiling, and the Microhealth BF biofertiliser based on locally adapted microbiological formulations.
The project responds to the need for more precise and accessible data on soil condition, its microbiome and functional potential. SoilKit will enable sampling, digital traceability of the analytical process, and sample quality control from the field parcel to the laboratory, while SoilLife will apply eDNA/NGS analytics and functional gene analysis to provide deeper insight into the microbiological composition and functions of the soil. Analysis results will be presented to users through customised reports, a digital soil map and locally relevant recommendations, which will serve as the basis for the development and application of the Microhealth BF biofertiliser — a biostimulant based on indigenous microorganisms adapted to Croatian soils and crops.
The particular value of the project arises from the integration of biotechnology, the digital sphere and sustainable agriculture. The solutions developed will contribute to reducing the excessive use of mineral fertilisers, preserving soil biodiversity, lowering environmental impact, and strengthening the resilience of agricultural production. At the same time, this creates a foundation for the commercialisation of products and services, the strengthening of research and development capacities, and a stronger positioning on the market.
Total project value: 3,420,839.17 EUR
Total eligible costs: 3,385,928.70 EUR
Grant funding: 1,927,313.90 EUR
Implementation period: 1 October 2025 – 1 October 2028
Contact person for further information: Mario Dananić, mario.dananic@labena.hr
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