SanaTerra One Health & Microbiome Living Lab

SanaTerra is a One Health & Microbiome Living Lab operating as a hybrid SME + NGO initiative in rural Extremadura (Villanueva de la Vera, Spain).

Its mission is to regenerate microbiomes across soil, animal and human ecosystems by reconnecting scientific evidence, traditional knowledge and rural communities through place-based, microbiome-driven solutions.

SanaTerra integrates the following core domains:

• Functional food and human microbiome innovation, including fermented dairy and plant-based foods

• Circular food processing and by-product valorisation

• Agroecology and soil microbiome regeneration

• Rural Living Labs, training and community empowerment, with a particular focus on youth and wome

The SME activities of SanaTerra include the development of microbiome-informed food and nutrition solutions, such as:

• YorGut, a range of functional fermented foods, including a probiotic and symbiotic fermented goat milk produced from local milk sourced from an endangered heritage breed, as well as fermented functional beverages (e.g. ginger-based drinks). Ongoing developments include plant-based fermented products using cowpea (Vigna unguiculata).

• Mibiotico, innovative formulations for targeted microbiome modulation, alongside professional education in microbiome science and One Health nutrition.

  SanaTerra operates an operational farm, laboratory, rural hub and training centre, enabling real-life testing, co-creation, demonstration and scaling of innovations under rural conditions. The Living Lab functions as a bridge between scientists, health professionals, farmers, rural communities and policymakers, addressing fragmentation across food, health and rural development systems.

From a practical implementation perspective, SanaTerra can offer:

• Operational pilot sites for food processing, fermentation and circularity demonstrations under real rural conditions

• Access to regenerative livestock systems, including the endangered local goat breed Capra Verata, as well as poultry and cattle systems, supporting integrated and circular agro-food pilots

• Expertise in prebiotic and probiotic selection and application, linking raw materials, fermentation processes and microbiome functionality

• Go-to-market experience in the development of prebiotic and functional fermented food products,

• Direct engagement with farmers, processors and consumers, enabling feedback loops from pilot to market