Led by Ontario Genomics, the project is a collaborative effort by a consortium of businesses and institutions, including University of Toronto, University of Waterloo and Carleton University, to produce nylon and plastics via precision fermentation.
“We do that by amplifying a natural process where microbes that are naturally occurring, feed on food waste like potato skins and potatoes and starch, and the microbes have the ability to feed on that food waste and then turn it into components of products like bioplastics or nylons, plastic films, etc,” Ontario Genomics president Dr. Bettina Hamelin told Global News. “The opportunity here is really to reduce the waste and reduce greenhouse gases and make the environment better.”