Abstract
In the early stages of participating in the iGEM competition, we noticed the issue of soil heavy metal pollution. We initially conducted in-depth research through literature review and mathematical modeling to elucidate the economic damage it causes to farmers and the food losses it leads to in society. After gaining a deeper understanding of the widely promoted concept of sustainable development, we decided to contribute to global sustainability efforts. We approached this from three perspectives:
- We designed a solution that uses E. coli to recover soil heavy metals, addressing the problem of soil heavy metal pollution.
- We started with ourselves, rigorously monitoring material losses in experiments to minimize waste.
- We actively engaged in public awareness and encouraged people around us to recognize the significance of soil heavy metal pollution and sustainable development.
How does our project meet several goals of sustainable development
Sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainability is the foundation for today’s leading global framework for international cooperation. So far, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, with 169 targets to reach by 2030 or sooner. The goals are universal and can be applied to countries all over the world in every aspects of the world, such as the business management of sustainability which develops a bespoke action plan for integrating sustainability into everyday business application, sustainable food production especially in production and processing, etc.
Our iGEM team focuses on the bioremediation track which is about the removal of heavy metal ions in the soil to increase the long-term profits of the farmers and also increases the potency of the future usage of the land. Land is one of the four factors of production and also the only natural resources in those four, it does not only involves the surface area of the land, but also the nutrition, the minerals and other natural evolved substances in it. By exploring new possible production areas and irrigating the field with eco-friendly fertilizers for example, the quantity and quality of the land can be increased and improved respectively.
According to the mission established by the United Nations and iGEM committee, our project eventually landed on the following three most related goals:
Goal 2 : Zero Hunger
Goal 3 : Good Health and Well-being
Goal 15 : Life On Land
Goal 2 : End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
As the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki – Moon noted in the Millennium Development Goals Report 2015, “disparities between rural and urban areas remain pronounced” and big gaps persist in different sectors:
As the world population continues to grow, much more effort and innovation will be urgently needed in order to sustainably increase agricultural production, improve the global supply chain, decrease food losses and waste, and ensure that all who are suffering from hunger and malnutrition have access to nutritious food. Many in the international community believe that it is possible to eradicate hunger within the next generation, and are working together to achieve this goal.
World leaders at the 2012 Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) reaffirmed the right of everyone to have access to safe and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger. The UN Secretary-General’s Zero Hunger Challenge launched at Rio+20 called on governments, civil society, faith communities, the private sector, and research institutions to unite to end hunger and eliminate the worst forms of malnutrition. The Zero Hunger Challenge has since garnered widespread support from many member States and other entities. It calls for:
- Zero stunted children under the age of two
- 100% access to adequate food all year round
- All food systems are sustainable
- 100% increase in smallholder productivity and income
- Zero loss or waste of food
After applying our technology and products to the soil, the availability planting area will grow significantly which increase the productivity of land resources and there will be a large rise in the output. Through the usage of microorganisms and our engineered E. coli which helps with eliminating metal ions in the soil, the food supply chain can also be improved, so if the supply increases and the demand remains constant, the price of food will decrease which made the necessity more accessible and affordable for the poor in order to avoid diseases like malnutrition for the infants which in the long-term will increase the number of working population and the quantity of labor and increase the output in the future. An increase in the income will also contribute to the GDP as well and further increase the government expenditure to improve the GNP. Moreover, countries with flourish natural resources can export food products to control its exchange rate and get the citizens in the rural areas out of the poverty trap in order to have better education and do more researches and developments to increase the quality and land utilization rate in the economic aspects. Furthermore, by using economies of scale, the increase in quantity of modified soil which increases the productivity, can reduce the average cost of the production so do the prices of the food which also makes food more affordable for the poor.
Goal 3 : Ensure healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.
Sustainable Development Goal 3 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is to “ensure healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages”. The associated targets aim to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio; end preventable deaths of newborns and children; end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other communicable diseases; reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases; strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse; halve the number of deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents; ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services; achieve universal health coverage; and reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and pollution.
Removal the heavy metal ions can reduce the potential danger and the toxicity of the plants grown in the soil which may be finally absorbed and harm the digestive system of the body. More severe circumstance is that the ions may dissolve into the rain and enter the world’s water cycle which may even influence the marine lives. The reduce in death rate, infant mortality rate and government spending in health care can reduce the trend of recession and reduce the opportunity cost of spending the tax revenue. An increase in life expectancy can be a reflection of the development of the whole society.
Goal 15 : Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
At the Rio+20 Conference, Member States reaffirmed, through paragraphs 197- 204 of the outcome document, the Future We Want, that “intrinsic value of biological diversity, as well as the ecological, genetic, social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational and aesthetic values of biological diversity and its critical role in maintaining ecosystems that provide essential services, which are critical foundations for sustainable development and human well-being”. Member States also recognized “the severity of global biodiversity loss and degradation of ecosystems” and stress the negative impact that this situation has on food security, nutrition, access to water, health of the rural poor and people worldwide”.
Our project aims to better protect forests and restore arable land by removing heavy metals from the soil through recycling
How we started by our selves
Environmental: In the production of E. coli adsorption reagents, we adhere to the production philosophy of reusability and environmental conservation. For instance, equipment such as test tubes, syringe tips, and petri dishes are reused after thorough high-temperature sterilization. Advanced production techniques, like high-precision gel electrophoresis instruments and syringes, are employed to minimize material wastage caused by errors and malfunctions during the manufacturing process. Our production processes are meticulously designed to reduce waste generation. Additionally, we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint. We utilize clean energy sources, such as electronic heaters and alcohol lamps instead of natural gas, to reduce harmful gas emissions. We are also planning to participate in carbon offset projects, ensuring our production's environmental impact is minimized as much as possible.
Social: We also prioritize employee welfare and community engagement. From a humanitarian perspective, we strive to create a safe, supportive, and egalitarian work environment. We rigorously adhere to local labor rights and obligations, ensuring employee rights. From a community perspective, we actively participate in community projects, supporting local education, health, and environmental initiatives. For example, we invite community residents to our laboratories for educational outreach activities on heavy metal hazards and their control. We also invite middle and elementary school students to visit our laboratories for learning, promoting sustainable development within the community.
