In a major scientific breakthrough bridging environmental recycling and astronaut nutrition, a research team led by Sri Lankan scientist and microbiologist Dr. Lahiru Jayakody has successfully engineered technology to transform plastic waste into edible, protein-dense food.

Developed at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in collaboration with NASA's Deep Space Food Challenge, the project—dubbed 'µBites' (Microbites)—utilizes an advanced thermo-chemical method known as oxidative hydrothermal dissolution (OHD). The process rapidly deconstructs polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles and agricultural crop residues using heat, pressure, and oxygen into soluble carbon molecules. Genetically engineered yeast strains subsequently consume the carbon slurry, metabolizing it into nutrient-rich single-cell proteins, healthy lipids, and essential vitamins.

The resulting biological dough is then shaped into nutrient-rich cookies using specialized 3D food printers and baked. While institutional human taste testing protocols and regulatory clearances are underway, Dr. Jayakody emphasized that the circular biomanufacturing model offers profound applications beyond deep space voyages to Mars and lunar habitats—providing a scalable emergency food production solution for disaster-affected communities, marine expeditions, and global plastic remediation efforts.