Asturias, 7 may 2026. In this interview from the Resilcrops Project series, we speak with Beatriz del Río, researcher at the Institute of Dairy Products of Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), about her role in the project and how microbial biotechnology can contribute to more sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture.

Her role in the ResilCrops project
Beatriz del Río is part of the ResilCrops coordinating research group, contributing to Work Package 1 (WP1): Sustainable production of bioactive products from algae and microorganisms. She is specifically involved in Activity 2 (Production of microorganisms), where she leads the design, planning, and supervision of research focused on optimizing the production of plant biostimulants such as putrescine, GABA, and ornithine using Lactococcus lactis.

Her work centers on guiding the experimental strategy, interpreting results, and refining hypotheses in close collaboration with other researchers to ensure the effective progress of the project.

Innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration
What motivates her most about participating in ResilCrops is the opportunity to contribute to tackling a global challenge such as climate change, particularly its impact on crops used for food production. With more than 20 years of experience working with lactic acid bacteria, she is especially interested in exploring how their metabolites can be used as natural biostimulants to help mitigate environmental stresses such as drought.

She also highlights the value of working within a large, multidisciplinary and international research team, where complementary expertise is integrated to achieve shared scientific goals.

Scientific challenges and agricultural application
One of the most exciting aspects of the project for her is the possibility of achieving tangible and impactful results within a relatively short timeframe. ResilCrops aims to develop and validate sustainable, circular economy-based strategies, using bioactive compounds derived from algae and microorganisms to enhance crop resilience against both biotic and abiotic stresses, including drought and emerging pests.

This approach demonstrates how interdisciplinary collaboration can lead to practical solutions for climate-resilient agriculture, particularly in regions such as the Atlantic Area.

A commitment to sustainable food systems
For Beatriz del Río, promoting sustainable agriculture is essential to move towards environmentally responsible and climate-resilient production systems. She emphasizes the importance of combining the valorisation of agro-industrial by-products, such as dairy whey, with the use of natural microbial resources.

This integrated approach supports the development of innovative and circular solutions that improve crop performance, reduce environmental impact, and increase resource efficiency.

The value of collaborative research
She also underlines the importance of participating in multidisciplinary European research projects, where collaboration across different scientific fields enables the development of solutions with real societal impact. According to her, these initiatives not only foster innovation but also create opportunities to build long-term international partnerships and contribute to a more sustainable future.