Human Practices
Overview
Due to natural hazards such as desertification, salinization, and soil erosion, a significant amount of arable land loses its productivity every year globally. However, while arable land is continually decreasing, the global population is growing at an accelerating rate, leading to an ever-increasing demand for food. In this context, food crises are spreading, and addressing the global arable land crisis is becoming increasingly urgent.
In light of these challenges, our Tsinghua-TFL team has proposed the Star-Chlamy solution. Through the use of synthetic biology, we aim to transform Chlamydomonas reinhardtii into a potential alternative source of food for the future. Our goal is to reduce the reliance on land resources in agricultural production by increasing photosynthetic efficiency, thereby enhancing food production. Simultaneously, we intend to improve the nutritional value of food by altering the composition of food products.
Throughout our project's lifecycle, we have carefully considered its responsibility and global benefit. This was not a one-time assessment but a continuous process that evolved as we progressed. We documented our approach to exploring these questions and made sure that our Human Practices activities responded to the core values we identified. This approach has enabled us to address the "why" and "how" of our project's responsible and reflective implementation.
We established a DBTL cycle between our project work and the world it is meant to serve. These loops informed our project's purpose, design, and execution. Our commitment to continuous improvement and adaptation based on insights from our Human Practices activities has been integral to the responsible development of our project. We have actively responded to the information acquired and ensured that our project evolves in harmony with our core values.
Designing Our Human Practice Framework
The idea of using microalgae, specifically Chlamydomonas reinhardtii , to help tackle the issues of land scarcity and food insecurity sparked our curiosity. In pursuit of this innovative concept, we embarked on a journey of background research and conducted a series of interviews to assess the viability and potential industrialization of starch production by these algae.
Our primary objectives in these interviews were to determine:
Mingxiong Xue May 14th Interview
Feedback
During our insightful interview with Mingxiong Xue, the CEO of the highly esteemed algae-based company, Beihai Shengbada Biotechnology Co., Ltd, we gained valuable insights into the practical aspects of our project. Mr. Xue underlined the critical importance of translating innovative ideas into practical solutions. He emphasized that Chlamydomonas reinhardtii's self-sustaining nature in regular production is a promising aspect, shedding light on its potential for large-scale implementation.
Furthermore, Mr. Xue astutely pointed out a specific challenge that our project needs to address – the issue of inadequate light penetration within fermentation tanks. This issue is crucial as it affects the growth and productivity of Chlorella. His expertise in the field provided us with a clear direction to consider and resolve this issue effectively.
Mr. Xue at a conferenceClosing the Loop
Mr. Xue expressed a keen interest in our chlorophyll project. He recognized its significance and potential for the industry. He not only encouraged our team's efforts but also suggested that further development, particularly through wet-lab experimentation, could unlock even greater potential in our project. This enthusiastic response from a seasoned professional in the field has motivated us to explore and expand our chlorophyll project further, with a keen focus on practical implementation and real-world impact.
China Starch Industry Association (Starch Industry NGO) May 24th Interview
Feedback
During the interview with the China Starch Industry Association[ a national, cross-regional, and cross-sector industry organization, also a non-profit social organization,their speaker(s) requested anonymity.], their insights provided a deeper understanding of the intricacies of the starch supply chain. They underscored the significance of high-value products within this chain, shedding light on the importance of refining our project's focus. Specifically, they encouraged us to delve further into examining direct chain-to-chain ratios as a means to elevate the overall quality of starch products.
Logo of the China Starch Industry AssociationClosing the lop
This invaluable feedback from the association has sparked a new avenue of exploration for our project. In response to their recommendation, we have established a method for thorough investigation and optimization of the direct chain-to-chain ratios through dry lab procedures. This proactive step is aimed at not only improving the quality of starch products but also aligning our project more closely with industry standards and stakeholder expectations, thus ensuring a fruitful and mutually beneficial outcome.
Buiding Our Project
As our experiments progress, we aim to delve deeper into the significance of microalgae starch synthesis. This endeavor has led us to interview Prof. Changhong Yao , a professor at Sichuan University and an expert in the field. Feedback from our research suggests that both starch and its by-products hold considerable value, especially in contrast to the resource-intensive cultivation of corn for starch production.
Our meeting with Prof. Yao
Interview Highlight:
In our interview, we asked Prof. Yao about the evidence that showcases the responsibility and global benefit of our project. According to Prof. Yao, our project holds great potential. Microalgae-based starch production requires significantly less land compared to corn, which is a high-value proposition. This, in turn, can mitigate land use and resource scarcity issues.
In our interview, we asked Prof. Yao about the evidence that showcases the responsibility and global benefit of our project. According to Prof. Yao, our project holds great potential. Microalgae-based starch production requires significantly less land compared to corn, which is a high-value proposition. This, in turn, can mitigate land use and resource scarcity issues.
In terms of impact, we discussed with Prof. Yao the potential end users of our microalgae-based starch. He emphasized that the project can benefit industries requiring starch and its by-products. The food industry, for instance, could utilize microalgae-derived starch in various applications, reducing its reliance on conventional starch sources.
Prof. Yao outlined a vision of our project's implementation in the real world. He stressed the importance of conducting feasibility studies, pilot programs, and collaboration with key stakeholders. Such a phased approach ensures a responsible and effective transition to microalgae starch production.
Feedback
Our interview with Prof. Yao has provided valuable insights into the responsible development of microalgae-based starch synthesis. By considering environmental, social, and economic factors and by consulting with experts and communities, we are confident that our project aligns with responsible and globally beneficial values. Moreover, the guidance from Prof. Yao has highlighted the importance of a phased implementation plan, emphasizing the responsible execution of our project in the real world.
Testing Our Project
As our experiment nears its completion, we find it crucial to assess the effectiveness of our project's outcomes. It is essential to understand whether our project aligns with values that are responsible and beneficial for the world. In pursuit of this understanding, we conducted an interview with Dr. Dingyi Li. During this interaction, we discussed the design aspects of our CCM project and received valuable insights on experimental characterization.
We also visited Protogabio, a prominent algae-based company, to see how our idea could be industrialized. We visited their experimental labs and discussed industrial production techniques of green algae with their CTO, Dr. Yujiao Qu.
Interview with Dr. Li
Visiting Protoga Biotech and discussing the industrial application of our project with the company’s CTO Dr. Qu
Highlight
In our interviews with Dr. Dingyi Li and based on our visit to Protogabio, the responsibility and global benefits of our project became evident. Dr. Qu emphasized its environmental responsibility in addressing land use and resource scarcity. We also discussed the project's broad impact, especially in industries reliant on starch, with the food industry and the feed industry taking the spotlight. The feasibility of implementing our algae for industrial use also became more apparent.
Feedback
Our interview with Dr. Dingyi Li and the visit to Protogabio were invaluable experiences for our project. We gained significant insights and identified areas for improvement:
In response to these experiences, we have made several improvements to our project design and implementation plan. We are committed to developing a project that aligns with global values and has a significant positive impact. We deeply appreciate the support and guidance from Dr. Li and Dr. Qu and look forward to potential future collaborations.
Partnership and collaboration
Our team highly values collaboration with other IGEM teams, as we believe it sparks inspiration and mutual growth, amplifying our collective impact. Throughout the competition, we actively participated in numerous key team meetups and conferences, including events like the Chinese Engineering Biology Innovation Forum IV, CCiC's Human Practice series, TP-link iGEM team meetup, CCiC, and the Hubei Synthetic Biology Open Conference. Notably, we spearheaded an international meetup, "Synthetic Biology x Sustainable Development," uniting IGEMers from around the world to discuss sustainable development. Beyond these gatherings, we maintained fruitful exchanges with numerous international teams, fortifying our collaborative efforts through various channels. Our unwavering commitment to collaboration is a linchpin of our IGEM journey, ensuring a potent collective impact.
Organized by us
International Team Meetup for“Synthetic Biology x Sustainable Development”
Our team has tried to organize an international conference dedicated to the intersection of synthetic biology and sustainable development. This conference served as a pivotal platform for iGEM teams from all over the world who were dedicated to sustainability to come together and share their experiences, knowledge, and innovative ideas. Because SDGs are global issues, we extended invitations to teams worldwide and received positive responses. Team Makerere-Uganda from Africa, Team Nanjing-China and Team SCU-China from China shared their projects and their opinions on SDGs and synthetic biology. Team Oxford and Team UZurich from Europe also expressed interest in our meetup and we had communications on the projects through emails.
SDG Handbook
In addition to the conference, we recognized the need for a practical resource that future iGEM teams could use to navigate the complex landscape of sustainable development projects. To meet this need, we compiled a comprehensive handbook helped by Team Makerere-Uganda and Team SCUT-China. This handbook provides a detailed account of our approach to sustainable development initiatives, serving as a blueprint for other teams looking to undertake similar projects.
Participated in
1. 2023.04.27-04.29; Offline; Chinese Engineering Biology Innovation Forum IV: Dr. Xiao Yi invited us to attend the grand conference hosted in Shenzhen, China. Many experts and the best companies in synthetic biology have attended this conference. We communicate with experts from all works of life and we meet iGEMers from HUST-China, DUT-China and a high school team SZ-SHD. We communicated about our projects and exchanged souvenirs with each other.
Our Journey
Click here to see our cooperation and partnership.