Roadmap for Microbiota optimisation

What are we trying to achieve and why? What is the problem we are trying to solve?

Understanding how microbiomes (holobionts) can increase performance.

What are the scientific and technological challenges (knowledge gaps needing to be addressed)?

Microbiota functionality.
Phenotype definitions.
Establish a correlation between microbiota and phenotypes.
Standard studies for different species.
Differences of immunity system among species (e.g. monograstrics, ruminats, fish…).

What approaches could/should be taken to address the research question?

Technologies to study microbiota.
Modelling for data analysis.
Case control-studies.
Deep phenotyping of the population.
Minimal unit for defining microbiota in different species.
Impact of diet on microbiome that affect productivity.

What else needs to be done before we can solve this need?

Existing knowledge including successes and failures