Dr Lahiru Jayakody leads research team to create edible cookies from plastic waste for future space missions.
Dr Lahiru Jayakody and a team of researchers at Southern Illinois University Carbondale have developed a method to transform plastic waste into edible cookies. Using a NASA-funded project, the team utilized specially designed yeasts to convert polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic and agricultural waste into proteins, fats, and flavorings. The resulting biomass was then 3D-printed into disc-shaped cookies dubbed "µBites." These cookies were developed as part of the NASA Deep Space Food Challenge to solve the problem of feeding astronauts during long-term space travel. The process involves breaking down plastic into carbon-rich molecules using water and oxygen under high pressure and temperature, which are then fed to genetically reprogrammed yeasts. These yeasts convert the carbon into biological molecules like proteins and vitamins. While the cookies have received high marks for aroma, the team is currently awaiting official approval to conduct human taste tests. The technology could eventually serve as a mainstream ecological solution to address global food demand and plastic waste on Earth.