In the realm of alcohol production, it is imperative to consider not only the scientific and technical aspects but also the social, ethical, and practical implications. Since our project goal is to synthesize a new type of baker's yeast which is able to self-produce amylase and glucoamylase, so that the alcohol manufacturer(the potential end users) could save the cost of production. Our team placed great emphasis on integrated human practices, which involve engaging with the public and experts to gather valuable insights and perspectives, to better understand and design our project and product.

To gauge the public demand for medical alcohol, our team conducted a setup questionnaire, reaching out to individuals from diverse backgrounds. Through this survey, we aimed to understand the public’s perception, preferences, and expectations regarding medical alcohol, ensuring our project aligns with societal needs.

We released this questionnaire via Wenjuanxing, a platform providing functions equivalent to Amazon Mechanical Turk, and received 402 valid responses from participants. The respondents represented various age groups, with a majority being under the age of 18.

Regarding the frequency of alcohol use, 66.42% of users reported occasional usage. In terms of usage, 93% of users indicated the use of alcohol for disinfection purposes, with the home being the primary location for medical alcohol usage. When selecting medical alcohol, the majority of users considered four factors in order of importance: concentration, volume, packaging, and brand. A small number of users expressed willingness to purchase alcohol in bulk.

Concerning the source of medical alcohol, 47.76% of users indicated a moderate level of concern, while 41.54% expressed no concern.

Lastly, 85.07% of users expressed their intention to prioritize the use of medical alcohol derived from more environmentally friendly raw materials.

The insights gleaned from the questionnaire responses provide valuable guidance and highlight important aspects of our project's impact on the world of alcohol production.

Firstly, the respondents’ willingness to prioritize the purchase of environmentally friendly alcohol reinforces the significance of our project. This indicates a growing awareness and concern for sustainability, aligning perfectly with our aim to develop more eco-friendly solutions. The positive response demonstrates that our project has the potential to contribute to a greener and more sustainable future in the alcohol industry.

Secondly, the questionnaire responses underscore the importance of education as a key component of our project. By increasing awareness about alcohol production, we can bridge the knowledge gap and promote responsible consumption. Additionally, highlighting the low cost and environmentally friendly nature of our new yeast strains in educational initiatives will further emphasize the benefits and potential of our project.

Through education, we can empower individuals to make informed choices about alcohol consumption and inspire them to embrace more sustainable practices. By sharing the knowledge gained from our research and project, we can contribute to a wider understanding of the positive impact our new yeast strains can have on both cost and the environment.

In conclusion, the insights from the questionnaire reinforce the importance of our project in terms of sustainability and education. By prioritizing eco-friendly alcohol and spreading awareness, we can make a significant contribution to the industry and promote a more sustainable future.

[Survey results entry ：https://www.wjx.cn/report/227589882.aspx]

We conducted an interview with Professor Li Qi from Sichuan Normal University to gain insights and knowledge related to our project on constructing a cell factory for Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the field of autosecretory amylase and glycosylase. The specific aim was to understand the current development of alcohol brewing technology, including traditional and new alcohol brewing techniques, and analyze the competitiveness of our new alcohol production method.

During the interview, various topics were discussed. Professor Li provided information on the principle of alcohol brewing, the advantages and disadvantages of traditional brewing techniques, and potential developments in traditional brewing. The interview further delved into the current situation and hazards of sweet potato residue waste, highlighting its utilization in various industries such as food, feed, and chemical. The advantages of high-value utilization of sweet potato residue were emphasized, including cost reduction, improved efficiency, and reduced environmental pollution.

Addressing the high cost of alcohol production due to the need for external assistance, Professor Li admired our project’s impact of alcohol production on the biotechnology, environmental, and energy industries was also discussed, emphasizing the potential of microbial conversion of sweet potato waste into alcohol as a sustainable energy solution. It was concluded that our approach was suitable for sweet potato residue processing and could be implemented in collaboration with processing plants. Upstream and downstream analysis could explore various application scenarios for alcohol, such as food, medical, and biological fields.

Overall, the interview with Associate Professor Li Qi provided valuable insights and guidance, contributing to our understanding of alcohol brewing technology, sweet potato waste utilization, and the potential applications of our project in various industries.

The purpose of the interview was to gain a deeper understanding of the experimental principles of our project and to gather insights for experiment optimization and commercialization of the product. We were very happy to be able to interview Prof. Liu Dong, who is a member of research group of the National Biochemical Center, and concurrently serving as an researcher at Nanjing High-tech Biological Techonology Research Institute Co., Ltd

During the interview, Professor Liu acknowledged our proposal but pointed out that although the conceptual framework was good, the desired effects had not been achieved. Several key points were discussed.

4.1 experimental improvement

· strain construction: after modifying the strain, it became more susceptible to contamination by other bacteria, leading to a decrease in production levels that factories were not inclined to accept. Further modifications in strain metabolism may be necessary.

· utilization of sweet potato residue waste: this utilization in alcohol production is not yet common. Sweet potato residue’s significant starch content of 60% makes it a valuable resource that can help fill the gap in alcohol production materials. Additionally, waste utilization aligns with the current support from the government.

Overall, Professor LIU reminded us that it is essential to create an environment where the strain is motivated to work efficiently, going beyond genetic modification.

4.2 commercial

· Finding a balance between economic benefits and environmental considerations is crucial. By improving yeast strain productivity, the generation of by-products can be reduced, resulting in less resource waste and achieving a unified goal.

· To align with the principles of green and sustainable development, Professor LIU introduced the concept of “TRY” - increasing T (concentration), optimizing r (rate), and maximizing y (efficiency) - in order to achieve more output with the same input. Downstream processes and integration are important, we need to address potential risks and challenges in separation and downstream applications.

To sum up, the interview with Professor LIU provided valuable insights for the team's project optimization and commercialization efforts. The discussion covered various aspects, including strain modification, waste utilization, commercial scalability, balancing economic benefits and environmental considerations, and the integration of green principles in yeast strain engineering. These insights contribute to the team's future strategies and decisions for the project.

Our comprehension of commercialization remains somewhat superficial; therefore, we sought insight from Mr.Wen Zhiqiang, conducting an interview during which we presented an introductory draft of our Business Plan (BP). Since Prof.Wen is an Associate Professor at Nanjing Normal University, who is also a co-funder of Henan/Nanjing Shiqi Biochemical Technology Co., Ltd, we have formulated an interview questionnaire encompassing three key areas: market analysis, product strategy, and financial considerations. The purpose of exploring the market aspect is to gain insights into enhancing the STP (Segmentation, Targeting, Positioning) section within our Business Plan. Regarding product strategy, our queries revolve around the efficacy of our sales model. Lastly, in the realm of finance, we seek to understand the optimal pricing strategy for our product.

He interrogated both our BP and overarching project, highlighting potential issues. One concern he articulated was that the sale of a strain could essentially constitute a single-transaction business. Given the self-replicating nature of the strain, the necessity for repeat purchases by the buyer might be eliminated, or even bypassed entirely through illicit replication. We acknowledged this as a substantial risk, necessitating the implementation of an innovative business model, such as encoding our company's signature within the strain's DNA, or creating a biological 'clock' mechanism within the strain itself.

Additionally, Mr. Wen Zhiqiang noted the difficulty of conducting strain-based commerce within the Chinese market, suggesting more success may be found in markets such as those in the United States or Brazil. This dialogue served to illuminate and enable us to address the weaknesses within our project.

Subsequently, we presented the uncertainties that had arisen during our drafting of the BP, specifically regarding pricing structures. Understanding that the principal cost of our product resides in its research and development, with minimal inherent production cost, we were unsure of how to approach pricing. Mr. Wen Zhiqiang proposed that our primary expenses would likely stem from promotional advertising, considering our product's nature aligns more with a Business-to-Consumer (B2C) model. His cogent responses greatly assisted our comprehension of potential commercialization strategies. This interactive process enabled us to gain a more lucid and profound understanding of our product.

What have we learnt:

Risk of Single-Transaction Business: Mr. Wen Zhiqiang highlighted the potential issue of selling a strain that can self-replicate. Since the buyer may not require repeat purchases and could even bypass the need for additional purchases through illicit replication, this poses a significant risk. To address this, innovative business models such as encoding the company's signature within the strain's DNA or creating a biological 'clock' mechanism within the strain itself were proposed. These strategies would help mitigate the risk of one-time transactions and encourage ongoing customer engagement.

Market Challenges in China:

It was noted that conducting strain-based commerce within the Chinese market might be difficult. Mr. Wen Zhiqiang suggested that markets like the United States or Brazil could potentially offer more success for your project. This insight allows you to focus your efforts on markets where the regulatory environment, consumer demand, and business conditions are more favorable for your product.

Pricing Structures:

Uncertainties arose regarding pricing structures, considering that the principal cost of your product lies in research and development, with minimal production costs. Mr. Wen Zhiqiang proposed that promotional advertising would likely be the primary expense, given the nature of your product aligning more with a Business-to-Consumer (B2C) model. This understanding helps you develop appropriate pricing strategies that consider the value proposition, market positioning, and the cost of customer acquisition.

Overall, the interactive process of presenting our Business Plan and engaging in a dialogue with Mr. Wen Zhiqiang allowed us to gain a more profound understanding of our project, identify potential weaknesses, and explore innovative solutions to address them. These insights will be valuable in refining our business model, targeting the right markets, and developing effective commercialization strategies..

In conclusion, the questionnaire and interviews conducted as part of our integrated human practices have yielded significant findings and insights. The questionnaire responses revealed a public demand for medical alcohol that prioritizes eco-friendly raw materials. This reinforces the importance of our project’s focus on sustainability and aligns with the current trend of environmental consciousness.

The interviews provided valuable expertise and recommendations. It is highlighted that the untapped potential of utilizing sweet potato residue, with its high starch content, in the alcohol production process. The importance of large-scale industrial production and the balance between economic benefits and environmental sustainability were also discussed.

These findings guided us in further refining our experimental approach and enhancing the commercialization prospects of our project. By incorporating the expert recommendations, we addressed challenges such as reducing production costs and improving strain performance. Moreover, the insights gained from the questionnaire and interviews informed our efforts to educate the public about the benefits and importance of sustainable alcohol production.

Overall, the questionnaire and interviews have enriched our project's knowledge base and provided a solid foundation for its future development. We are confident that our project will contribute to the advancement of alcohol production practices, promoting both environmental sustainability and economic viability.

Future Implementation of Our Project:

Our project revolves around the innovative synthesis of a new type of baker's yeast capable of self-producing amylase and glucoamylase. This breakthrough aims to revolutionize the alcohol production industry by reducing production costs for manufacturers.

Target Customers:

Our primary target customers are alcohol manufacturers, particularly those in the medical alcohol sector. Given the increasing demand for medical alcohol and the public's preference for eco-friendly products, our yeast strain offers a unique value proposition.

Usage of Our Product:

Manufacturers can seamlessly integrate our genetically modified yeast into their production processes, eliminating the need for external enzymes and thereby reducing costs. This not only streamlines the production process but also aligns with the growing trend towards sustainability, as our yeast promotes the efficient use of resources.

Business Strategy:

One of the key challenges highlighted was the potential for a single-transaction business model, given the self-replicating nature of yeast. To address this, we're exploring innovative business strategies, such as encoding a signature within the yeast's DNA or introducing a biological 'clock' mechanism. Furthermore, while the Chinese market presents certain challenges for strain-based commerce, there's potential for success in international markets like the U.S. or Brazil.

For a comprehensive business plan, please navigate this link:

https://2023.igem.wiki/subcat-china/entrepreneurship.