Turning potato peels into yoga pants? Yes, Ontario researchers want to do that
Global News
The project will involve a process called precision fermentation, which allows tiny creatures to snack on starchy foods and then poop out tiny particles of plastic waste.
Researchers in Ontario say they are working on plans to turn food waste, such as potato peels and corn stalks, into plastic and nylon that can be used to create everyday items such as yoga pants.
The Ontario Genomics’ new wasteCANcreate program looks to use genomics to help divert tons of waste into useful household clothes and items.
The program involves a consortium of businesses spread from Orillia to Burlington to Aylmer in Ontario to others in Vancouver and Regina who are working alongside the University of Toronto, University of Waterloo and Carleton University .
“What we can do with genomics to to tackle our waste problem is, is another great news story,” Ontario Genomics president Dr. Bettina Hamelin told Global News.
Genomics are currently being used across a number of disciplines including across the medical world.
“Genomics is all about the DNA. The DNA is the blueprint of any sort of life, whether that is human life or plant life or animal life,” Hamelin said.
“We have the ability to analyze the DNA and we derive a lot of information from that that we can use, for example, to diagnose disease or to choose the right drug for the right person to make sure that treatments are effective.”
In the case of wasteCANcreate, the project will involve a process called precision fermentation which allows tiny creatures to snack on starchy foods and then poop out tiny particles of plastic waste which could then be used to make larger plastic and nylon products such as water bottles or athletic wear.