One of Bioart Society’s multi-year partnership projects, deCYPher brings together artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) techniques and synthetic biology (synbio) to develop bioprocesses for producing plant metabolites in a more economic and ecologically sustainable way.
The project focuses on the integration of biological and data-driven techniques in order to go beyond traditional extraction methods of flavonoids and terpenoids. These plant compounds are used in a variety of applications, including pharmaceuticals, fragrances, flavours, food preservatives, and insecticides. Only a tiny fraction of these can be commercially extracted from plants, and due to the low contents within the plants commercial processes require unsustainable large-scale field cultivation.
While utilising synthetic biology for the production of plant metabolites has economic and environmental benefits over traditional plant extraction and chemical methods, the speed in which they can currently be produced for the commercial market is lagging, making them almost inaccessible. In contrast AI & ML tools are evolving rapidly and have become easily accessible. Still, their use for engineering biology is underexplored.
In combining these deCYPher’s objective is to develop an alternative bio-economy to ensure these compounds can be produced and supplied in a more sustainable, economical, accessible and efficient way.
Art and science in deCYPher
In the project Bioart Society works closely with Biofaction, a research and science communication company based in Vienna, to integrate artistic and critical practices from the field of art & science and to stimulate deeper reflection about convergence of AI/ML and SynBio.
Central to this is the artist in residence programme, led by Bioart Society, which places artists in our partners labs and facilities to undertake research in response to the project. Following an open call in 2024 Kristof De Clercq, Roberta Gigante and Christina Stadlbauer (as a collective trio), HSURAE, and Laura Elidedt Rodriguez were selected as deCYPher artists in residence. Following residencies in 2025 the artists are supported to produce a body of work towards an end of project exhibition.
Bioart Society’s role also includes initiating and developing interdisciplinary debate via panels, conferences and online discussion groups about the opportunities, risks and responsibilities in linking the power of AI/ML with synbio. A core setting for this is a series of three deCYPher labs bringing together artists and scientists to workshop the practicalities and potentials through a series of talks, tours, discussions, excursions and hands-on activities.
Partners in project
deCYPher takes an interdisciplinary approach by uniting academia, industry, citizens, and non-profit organisations. The project aims to impact various facets in science, economy, and society – fostering citizen-based co-creative innovation.
The partner associations include: Ghent University, Wageningen University & Research, The Spanish National Research Council, Isobionics, ML6, Biofaction, Lantana, VIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology), Barcelona Super-computing Center and Bioart Society.
Throughout the project deCYPher will also connect with Bioindustry 4.0 as a synergy project in the framework of the Horizon Europe program. The artist selected for this project from our shared open call is Špela Petrič who will also participate in the deCYPher labs and final exhibition.
deCYPher is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme: the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation. It tackles climate change, helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and growth.
Visit the project website for more information on the project and its objectives: https://www.decypher.bio/
