My main area of interest is to decipher the importance of the food microbiome to help solve most of the challenges related to food production and the sustainable use of resources. I do this by applying novel omics-based methodologies. My primary focus has been the dairy value chain and I work closely with the industry and primary production stage of the dairy supply chain. I am also involved in other non-dairy projects where we exploit the functionality of the microbiome to sustainably increase food production and quality.

My research activities encompass several projects:

• Sustainable Innovation of MicroBiome Applications in Food Systems (SIMBA). Funding agency (2018-2022). FUNDING AGENCY: European Research Commission. COORDINATOR: Natural Resources Institute Finland. ROLE: Coordinator of NMBU contribution to the project.
• Innovasjonsprosjekt i næringslivet: DNA analyser for bedre styring av osteproduksjonen. (2019-2022) FUNDING AGENCY: The Research Council of Norway. COORDINATOR: Tine SA. ROLE: Work package leader
• Increasing sustainability of Norwegian food production by tackling streptococcal infections in modern livestock systems (2018-2022). FUNDING AGENCY: The Research Council of Norway. COORDINATOR: Norwegian Veterinary Institute. ROLE: Work package leader
• Clostridia and other microbiota in raw milk and milk products: importance for product quality and food safety (2019-2022) FUNDING AGENCY: The Research Council of Norway. COORDINATOR: the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. ROLE: Work package leader
• The udder microbiome in dairy cows: importance for animal health and welfare, mastitis and milk quality (2017-2021). FUNDING AGENCY: The Research Council of Norway. COORDINATOR: the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. ROLE: Partner
• Bacterial flora and dynamics in Norwegian milk and dairy products: Potential for spoilage and disease (2015-2018). FUNDING AGENCY: The Research Council of Norway. COORDINATOR: the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. ROLE: Partner
• Utvikling av en serie syrekulturer til fremstilling av tjukkmjølk (2018). FUNDING AGENCY: The Research Council of Norway. COORDINATOR: the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. ROLE: Partner