Sourdough Library Preserves Baking Heritage While Fostering Innovation

The Puratos Sourdough Library, located in Sankt Vith, Belgium, is a one-of-a-kind institution dedicated to preserving the rich cultural and scientific legacy of sourdough. Managed by Karl De Smedt, head of the Puratos Sourdough Institute, the library serves as both a research hub and a source of inspiration for bakers around the world.

Key Insights into the Sourdough Library:

1. The Importance of Sourdough:
   • Sourdough has gained widespread attention in recent years, notably during the COVID-19 pandemic, when home baking surged. The library’s goal is to safeguard sourdough’s cultural significance and to understand the fermentation processes that make it unique.
   • As Karl De Smedt notes, fermentation is a fundamental process in human history, almost as significant as the discovery of fire. Fermentation not only creates flavor but also helps preserve food and improve its digestibility, benefiting our microbiomes.
2. Preserving Biodiversity:
   • The Sourdough Library is home to over 150 unique sourdough cultures from around the world, each carefully preserved and studied. These cultures are fed regularly to ensure their continued vitality and are analyzed for their microbial composition at Puratos’ microbiology lab and the Free University of Bolzano in Italy.
   • In total, the library has identified over 1,500 microbial species across the cultures it maintains. This research helps bakers understand the diverse varieties of sourdough and their potential applications in baking.
3. Collaboration and Global Involvement:
   • Through the Quest for Sourdough database, Puratos invites bakers and enthusiasts from around the world to contribute their sourdough cultures. This collaborative effort ensures that the library remains a living collection of sourdough’s diverse history and future potential.
   • Each year, new cultures are added to the library after thorough analysis and collection, fostering an ever-growing understanding of how sourdough contributes to baking cultures globally.
4. Practical Applications:
   • The Sourdough Library isn’t just about preservation; it also plays a practical role in helping bakers. The library offers backup cultures for bakeries in case they lose their unique sourdough starter. During the pandemic, for example, the library helped a bakery in Denmark recover their starter when it was accidentally depleted.
   • The library also provides invaluable research to bakers and food producers, helping them optimize their sourdough recipes, understand food regulations, and maintain consistency in large-scale production.
5. Scientific and Cultural Impact:
   • The Puratos Sourdough Institute has been a leader in sourdough research since 1984, when it first explored using sourdough as a flavoring agent in commercial baking. Since then, the company has expanded its global operations, producing sourdough ingredients in 14 countries.
   • By preserving and sharing its findings, Puratos aims to inspire the baking community, whether through collaborations, educational initiatives, or the simple act of sharing sourdough cultures and insights.

Future Vision for the Sourdough Library:

1. UNESCO World Heritage Status:
   • De Smedt hopes to achieve UNESCO World Heritage status for the library, a long-term goal that reflects the immense value of sourdough as both a cultural and scientific treasure.
2. Ongoing Innovation and Knowledge Sharing:
   • The library is committed to sharing knowledge about sourdough fermentation and baking processes, helping bakers around the world make better products. Whether it’s introducing new techniques or optimizing traditional methods, the library’s research continues to push the boundaries of what sourdough can do.

Getting Involved:

• De Smedt encourages sourdough enthusiasts to register their cultures on the Quest for Sourdough platform, which now features over 3,000 sourdoughs from around the world. By sharing their stories, bakers contribute to a global community dedicated to the exploration and celebration of sourdough, furthering its cultural significance and scientific potential.

The Puratos Sourdough Library is more than just a collection of cultures—it’s a living, breathing repository that serves as a link between the past, present, and future of baking. Its efforts not only preserve sourdough’s rich heritage but also inspire innovation in baking practices, ensuring the continued growth and appreciation of this ancient art.