Scientists recycle plastic bottles into protein-rich cookies: 'Would eat in a dire situation'
Good Good Good · 2026-08-27
Scientists at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), led by associate professor Lahiru Jayakody and graduate student Sandhya Jayasekara, have developed a method to convert plastic waste and agricultural byproducts into edible proteins and flavorings using programmed yeasts. Prompted by NASA's Deep Space Food Challenge and a National Science Foundation grant, the research aims to address rising global food demand and plastic pollution. The team used polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, commonly found in bottles, along with corn plant stalks and leaves. They processed these materials using oxidative hydrothermal dissolution—a method employing water and oxygen at high temperatures to break them into microbe-accessible pieces. Programmed baker's yeast then converts these components into proteins, vitamins, and flavorings. The resulting product, dubbed µBites, resembles animal crackers. While currently not consumer-ready, the technology is envisioned for supporting deep space missions, including future colonies on the moon or Mars, and for use in food-insecure populations on Earth. The project, published on August 27, 2026, also aims to produce additional food additives like vanilla flavoring or beta-carotene.