Creatures from the deep in new role

TINY organisms from under the sea are set to be turned into preservatives for the food industry after an Oban-based biotechnology firm signed its latest partnership deal.

Aquapharm - which is led by Simon Best, who commercialised the technology used to create Dolly the sheep - said the first results from its contract with Leatherhead Food Research are expected early next year.

Dr Evangelia Komitopoulou, Leatherhead's head of food safety, said: "Consumer demand for additive-free foods is a key research driver in the area of food preservatives.

"Adding to Leatherhead's current research portfolio on natural alternatives to chemical preservatives, this collaboration aims to effectively exploit Aquapharm's unique source of bio-diverse marine micro-organisms."