NASA-backed scientists turn plastic waste into edible cookies
Researchers at Southern Illinois University are developing a method to engineer yeast that converts plastic waste into edible proteins and nutrients. This NASA-backed project aims to address both plastic pollution and food insecurity, particularly for long-term space missions.
Why it matters
This technology could provide a sustainable solution for waste management while creating a reliable food source for resource-limited environments on Earth and in space.
Plastic bottles and cookies may seem to have nothing in common, but researchers are finding a way to connect the two. By engineering yeast, scientists have developed a system that can transform compounds from plastic and agricultural waste into edible proteins, vitamins, flavorings, and other food ingredients.
The approach could provide a new way to reuse difficult waste while also helping produce food in places where conventional supplies are limited. Potential applications range from disaster zones on Earth to human missions deep into space.
The researchers presented their results at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) during the "Undergraduate and Graduate Research in Biochemistry and Chemical Biology" symposium at McCormick Place.
"Microbes are very clever. So, we are using their traits to solve the problems we created." - Lahiru Jayakody
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