‘Cookies’ made from plastic may be on the menu for future astronauts
Nasa-funded project uses yeasts to recycle plastics and other waste into food shaped into biscuits by 3D printers Cookies produced from upcycled plastic may sound like something straight out of a dystopian sci-fi plot. But researchers say that they have succeeded in creating such a product as part of a Nasa-funded project aimed at feeding astronauts on future space missions. The technology uses…
A NASA-funded research project has successfully developed cookies made from recycled plastic, potentially paving the way for future astronauts to consume such food during long space missions. The innovative technology employs specially engineered yeasts to convert plastic waste, specifically polyethylene terephthalate (PET) found in single-use water bottles, into edible protein, fat, and flavoring components.
These components are then combined with starch and shaped into disc-shaped "cookies" using a 3D printer. Dr. Lahiru Jayakody, the microbiologist leading the project at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, explained that the researchers chose to tackle food production after recognizing the carbon nature of both plastic and food.
The cookies, which have only undergone aroma testing, still require approval for human consumption trials. The upcycling process begins by breaking down PET using high-temperature and pressure water and oxygen, resulting in smaller carbon-rich molecules. These molecules serve as nourishment for genetically modified yeast, which transform them into proteins, fats, and other nutrients.
A separate yeast strain also produces vanilla flavoring from plant biomass. Currently, the cookies cost $60 per kilogram to produce; however, the team anticipates that improved yeast efficiency and increased production will lower the cost in the future. While the primary application is long-distance space travel, where three-year round-trip missions to Mars require resource optimization, the technology also holds potential for extreme terrestrial environments like submarines, disaster zones, or as a mainstream solution to plastic waste and food production challenges.
As global food demand is projected to rise by 35% to 56% by 2050, and about 30% of the world population may face hunger, the researchers believe that harnessing microbes, such as these engineered yeasts, offers a promising solution.
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