GoKawiilSIU Carbondale scientists 3D-print vanilla cookies from recycled PET plastic and crop waste
A team led by associate professor Lahiru Jayakody at Southern Illinois University Carbondale has engineered yeast strains that break down PET plastic bottles combined with agricultural waste like corn stalks into a protein-rich, vanilla-flavored snack called µBites. The project grew out of NASA's Deep Space Food Challenge, and though it did not win the competition, NASA encouraged the team to keep refining the concept, leading to improved taste, aroma and color unveiled recently at the American Chemical Society Expo in Chicago.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The research tackles two persistent problems at once: mounting plastic waste and the challenge of producing food in resource-scarce environments, whether on long space missions or in areas facing shortages. If scaled safely, converting discarded bottles and crop residue into edible protein could offer a novel path for sustainable food production, though questions about safety approval, taste appeal and manufacturing cost remain open.
- Genetically modified yeast converts PET plastic and plant waste into an edible protein cookie called µBites.
- The project originated from NASA's Deep Space Food Challenge aimed at feeding astronauts on long missions.
- Researchers at SIU Carbondale have since improved the cookie's flavor, aroma and color for potential real-world use.
Creality Ender-3 V3 SE 3D Printer — If reading about 3D-printed cookies made you curious about additive manufacturing at home, the Ender-3 V3 SE is a great entry point into the hobby. It's an easy-to-assemble FDM printer that lets you experiment with printing your own designs, including PET-based filaments made from recycled bottles.
See Creality Ender-3 V3 SE 3D Printer on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: cnet.com — Antuan Goodwin, 2026-08-25
Published there as: “These Cookies Are 3D-Printed and Made of Recycled Plastic”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.