From biodiversity conservation and climate change research to the development of functional food, improvements in biotechnological processes, airborne allergen monitoring, and ancient DNA research, scientists at the BioSense Institute’s Biosystems Centre are developing innovative solutions that contribute to a better understanding of nature and to improving quality of life. Research at the Biosystems Centre spans a broad range of scientific disciplines, including the study of cells and microorganisms, plant and animal species, ecosystems, and climate change. This multidisciplinary approach brings together biology, ecology, biotechnology, and digital technologies to develop solutions for today’s environmental and societal challenges.

One of the Centre’s key research areas focuses on the impact of climate change on biodiversity. Researchers study changes in pollinator populations, whose abundance is one of the key indicators of ecosystem health. In addition to honeybees, their research includes wild pollinators such as solitary bees, hoverflies, and butterflies, whose decline may have serious consequences for ecological balance and food production.

The Biosystems Centre is also developing innovative food products. Researchers are working on functional foods enriched with biologically active compounds, such as probiotics, using 3D food-printing technology. Alongside the development of new products, they investigate how different drying and baking methods affect the survival of probiotic cultures, with the aim of creating more nutritious foods. A significant part of the Centre’s research is also dedicated to airborne allergen monitoring. The BioSense Institute has developed the RealForAll application, which enables citizens to monitor pollen and airborne spore concentrations in real time. The monitoring network currently covers five cities across the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, while the long-term goal is to establish a nationwide network that will provide reliable information to citizens throughout Serbia.

Researchers at the Centre are also working on improving biotechnological processes in the food industry. One research project focuses on developing new methods for the secondary fermentation of sparkling wines by using carriers for yeast cell immobilisation. This approach simplifies the production process, shortens production time, and contributes to a higher-quality final product. In addition to modern biotechnology research, the BioSense Institute is advancing studies in evolutionary biology and archaeogenetics. By analysing animal fossils and ancient DNA, researchers reconstruct processes from the past and contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of human populations and ecosystems throughout history.

The diversity of research conducted at the Biosystems Centre demonstrates that BioSense is much more than a digital technology institute. By integrating life sciences, biotechnology, and advanced information technologies, our researchers are developing innovations that contribute to nature conservation, sustainable agriculture, food safety, and improved human health.