Bioscientist Vincent Eijsink of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences has received the 2026 Novonesis Biotechnology Prize. He received the award for research that clarified how tough biomass can be broken down much more efficiently. This insight is crucial for processing plant-based waste streams into biofuels, chemicals, and materials.
A persistent mystery in biomass
For years, scientists grappled with a fundamental question: How can bacteria and fungi break down sturdy natural materials like wood and straw relatively quickly, while the lab process is often slow and expensive? For a long time, it was thought that this occurred primarily through enzymes that cut the chemical bonds in cellulose with the help of water.
In practice, that mechanism turned out to be only part of the story. Eijsink and his team discovered that a second process is also at play, one that is crucial for rapid degradation.
Enzymes first make the structure accessible
The researchers identified a new group of enzymes, the so-called LPMOs. These enzymes don't simply break down cellulose, but first make the material more accessible to other enzymes.
It works like this. LPMOs use oxygen and electrons to locally open the hard surface of biomass. This creates new targets for enzymes that can further break down the cellulose chains. As a result, the total biomass conversion process is much faster and more efficient than previously thought possible.
From scientific breakthrough to application
The discovery dramatically changed the way biomass processing is viewed. While researchers initially focused primarily on enzymes that break biomass into fragments, it now became clear that first opening up the structure is also essential. It is precisely the collaboration between these processes that makes the difference.
The significance of this insight extends beyond science. LPMOs are now used in commercial enzyme blends for biomass processing. This is important for biorefineries, as enzymes can account for a significant portion of production costs. If fewer enzymes are used to extract more sugars from residual streams such as straw, corn stalks, and woody biomass, the economic viability of biobased production will improve.
Also relevant for other bio-based raw materials
Eijsink worked not only on cellulose but also on chitin, a tough natural substance found in fungi and crustaceans, among other things. This type of enzyme proved to be highly valuable there as well. This research opens the door to new applications for persistent bioresources.
Sustainable Biotechnology Award
The Novonesis Biotechnology Prize is awarded annually by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. It recognizes biotechnological research that contributes to innovative and more sustainable production. The official presentation will take place on April 24, 2026.
Source: Novo Nordisk Foundation
Photo: Tommy Normann/NMBU
