Ergothioneine, an amino acid that has scientifically proven benefits to human health, is exclusively biosynthesized by fungi and certain bacteria in soils. With coupled field testing and lab incubation experiments, this project is investigating how soil microbes synthesize and transform ergothioneine from soil to products under different farming practices.
Funded by: Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research
Principal Investigator: Jinjun Kan
Collaborators: Andrew Smith (Rodale Institute); Harsh Bais (University of Delaware); Wade Heller (USDA)
Project Year: 2021, 2022
