“The idea of drinking straws that people can eat – with flavors and colors added – is something hotels, restaurants and canteens will be interested in,” Shane Ward, professor of biosystems engineering at the University College Dublin tells the Irish Times.
Bioplastics from potato pulp that boost the shelf life of food was also displayed.
“Farmers currently give away agricultural waste or get a small price for it. For example, they can only sell rice bran for animal feed but we are showing how there are more valuable human food alternatives for it,” added Tom Curran, the project’s coordinator.