iGEM 2025 — Team shenfan-china

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Ethical Statement:

Prior to the interview, informed consent was obtained from the
participant. All names have been anonymized unless explicit permission was granted.

Interview with Laboratory PI
Interview with The Founder of
Chemical Plant
Interview with Farm Owner

# Interview with Laboratory PI

Interviewee Background:

## Dr. Xu

Ph.D. in Materials and Chemical Engineering from the University of Science and
Technology of China

Ph.D. in Materials and Chemical Engineering from the University of Science and
Technology of China

## Q1: Could you briefly introduce the main research direction of your lab and your current work?

A1: Our lab focuses on the synthetic biology of engineered strains. We are currently
working on enhancing microbial strains through genetic modification to achieve improved
environmental adaptability, functional expression, and field resilience. The goal is to
transition from controlled lab environments to complex, real-world conditions. Recently,
we have been conducting field experiments to test microbial growth and effectiveness in
different agricultural soils, particularly in areas with degraded land.

## Q2: How are field trials designed and implemented in your current work? What steps are typically involved?

A2: The implementation process includes multiple stages. We start with small-scale pot
trials in the laboratory to assess basic performance. Once validated, we design field
protocols and obtain approval through our university and partner institutions. In the
field, we test soil properties, then apply microbial strains with necessary controls,
such as untreated plots. We collect data on plant growth, microbial viability, and soil
health indicators. A major component is compliance with biosafety protocols, including
physical isolation and monitoring to prevent unintended spread.

## Q3: What are the main technical or regulatory challenges you've encountered when translating lab results to field applications?

A3: One of the biggest challenges is that many synthetic strains perform well in
controlled conditions but lose effectiveness in real environments due to competition
with native microbes and environmental stressors. Additionally, the cost of large-scale
production and deployment is significant. On the regulatory side, approval processes are
lengthy and vary by region. In some cases, lack of clear national standards for
synthetic biology field trials limits how quickly we can scale up.

## Q4: How do you engage with external stakeholders, such as farmers, regulatory bodies, or the general public, in your work?

A4: We work with local agricultural extension stations to introduce the research and
explain its goals. Farmers often express concern about safety and cost-effectiveness, so
we provide demonstration plots and hold workshops. We also submit environmental risk
assessments to local agencies. For public understanding, we are exploring science
communication strategies like infographics and short videos to explain synthetic biology
in accessible language.

## Q5: Based on your field experience, what improvements would you suggest for future development and deployment of synthetic biology applications in agriculture?

A5: We need a more robust pilot testing framework that bridges lab and field. This
includes scalable fermentation and formulation processes, better soil-microbe
compatibility tests, and funding support for field validation. From a governance
perspective, establishing clear national guidelines and third-party certification
mechanisms would help build public trust. Also, promoting interdisciplinary
collaboration among scientists, engineers, and social scientists is crucial.

## Q6: Do you think public communication and science popularization efforts are sufficient in your field? What more could be done?

A6: Not really. Synthetic biology is often perceived as a black box. We need to break
down technical jargon and use relatable narratives. Interactive media like VR
demonstrations, school outreach, and partnerships with science museums can be powerful.
Importantly, we must address both potential and risk in a balanced way, so the public
can make informed judgments.

## Q7: Are there any final thoughts or concerns you’d like to share?

A7: I believe synthetic biology holds great promise for sustainable agriculture, but we
need to proceed with caution. Field trials should not only be scientifically sound but
also socially responsible. Transparency, collaboration, and iterative feedback loops
between developers and users will be key to long-term success.

# Interview with The Founder of Chemical Plant

Interviewee Background:

## Mrs. X

Founder of chemical plant

Her chemical plant produce ultra-clean and high-purity chemical reagents for the
biopharmaceutical industry

## A. Basic Information

## Q1: Could you briefly introduce the main business focus of your chemical plant (e.g., fuels, chemical raw materials, biomass utilization, etc.)?

A1: Our main business is producing ultra-clean and high-purity chemical reagents for the
biopharmaceutical industry. Representative products include UPLC-MS grade acetonitrile
and methanol. (Ultra-clean high-purity reagents refer to chemical reagents with a purity
of more than 99.99% in the main component, and with impurity ions and particle numbers
meeting strict requirements. , aerospace, new materials, biomedicine, and
petrochemicals, and in some industries, they are even key basic chemical materials.)

## Q2: Does your factory deal with or come into contact with biomass (such as straw, sawdust, crop residues)?

A2: Some of our customers (for example, food testing institutions) use our products in
the detection of crop residues.

## B. Opinions on Existing Problems

## Q3: In your experience, what are the main difficulties or costs in dealing with biomass waste?

A3: Complexity and dispersion of raw materials: Biomass waste materials are highly
diverse and widely scattered, making classification, collection, storage, and
transportation difficult and energy-intensive.

Low energy density: A large amount of biomass waste may only be converted into a small
amount of energy.

Complex conversion process: Due to the complex composition of biomass waste, multiple
conversion processes (chemical, physical, biological, or a combination) may be required.
These processes often rely on non-renewable energy sources.

Secondary pollution: The conversion process may produce smoke and gas emissions, leading
to potential health risks.

## Q4: Do you think there is strong market demand for “biomass conversion products” (such as biofuels, degradable materials)?

A4: Currently, the commercial market demand has not yet peaked, because biofuels are
still not price-competitive. However, with carbon neutrality and other environmental
goals, governments are expected to strengthen policies promoting biomass conversion
products, and demand will continue to grow.

## C. Feedback on Our Innovation

## Q5: What was your first reaction when you heard about our idea of using a rumen-inspired system to decompose lignocellulose and produce VFAs?

A5: Using biological decomposition is very innovative. It could greatly reduce the
demand for other renewable energy or chemical products during the biomass decomposition
and conversion process. However, large-scale application may face certain difficulties.

## Q6: If VFAs could be further converted into fuels, plastics, or chemical raw materials, which direction do you think has the most industrial value?

A6: Probably plastics (e.g., polyhydroxyalkanoates) or chemical raw materials (such as
adipic acid, succinic acid, etc., which are key raw materials for producing nylon).

## D. Practical Considerations

## Q7: From the perspective of a chemical plant, what factors do you think are most critical when adopting such technology (e.g., cost, yield, stability, safety, environmental benefits)?

A7: Cost, yield, and stability. Biological decomposition of lignin is slow and
inefficient, making industrialization difficult.

## Q8: What do you think would be the biggest obstacle to large-scale implementation of this technology (e.g., raw material supply, process cost, equipment investment)?

A8: Raw material supply and process cost.

## E. Suggestions and Outlook

## Q9: What changes do you think this technology could bring to the chemical industry in the future?

A9: It could make the future chemical industry greener and more environmentally
friendly.

## Q10: Do you have any suggestions for our student team to help make this innovation closer to industrial application?

A10: Conduct extensive research through books, literature, and online resources to
clearly identify the technical and industrial challenges (especially high costs) of
biological lignin decomposition. It is recommended that project proposals be directly
linked to these challenges, offering possible solutions step by step. Combine these with
relevant policies to propose medium- and long-term plans that would be more acceptable
to industry.

# Interview with Farm Owner

Interviewee Background:

## Mr. Z

He grew up on family crop farm, so farming has been a part of his life for over sixty
years

## Q1:Could you tell us a little about your farming background? (e.g., what type of farming you do, and how long you’ve been working in agriculture?

A1: I grew up on our family crop farm, so farming has been a part of my life for over
sixty years. Back in the ’70s, I started experimenting with healthier ways to grow food
and purify water, long before “organic” was a buzzword. For the last couple of decades,
most of my focus has been on aquaponics, vertical gardening, microgreens, and wicking
beds. I like to treat it all as a big experiment—tweaking things, sometimes making big
changes—to see how I can get better results with less effort and cost.

## Q2:What types of crop residues or woody waste (like straw, stalks, or branches) are most common on your farm, and how do you usually deal with them?

A2: Living in the desert brings its own set of challenges—summer temps can top 120°F,
and winters drop into the single digits. Add in water scarcity, and you’re always
thinking about conservation. I compost almost everything that has carbon in it, except
citrus peels and meat. The citrus peels don’t go to waste, though—I use them to make
cleaning solutions, spices, and even essential oils.

## Q3: Do you face any challenges or costs in handling this kind of waste?

A3: Right now, I don’t have any livestock, which would normally help with recycling
plant matter. But once I finish setting up my little mountain ranch, I plan to bring in
rabbits, ducks, chickens, and goats. That’ll change the equation quite a bit.

## Q4: After hearing about our idea—using a rumen-inspired microbial system to break down lignin—what are your first thoughts?

A4: Honestly, it makes a lot of sense. Farming, in many ways, is really just about
raising the right bacteria. Take aquaponics, for example: ammonia from the fish gets
converted into nitrites, then nitrates, and that feeds the plants. If you can tap into
the natural digestion processes of a rumen, you’re just extending that same principle.

## Q5: Would a system that reduces crop waste and creates useful byproducts (like fuels or bioplastics) be attractive to you? Why or why not?

A5: Absolutely. Back in the mid-’70s, I actually designed a system that recycled and
reused all the waste from a small farming town. To me, turning “waste” into something
useful—whether it’s fuel, bioplastics, or fertilizer—just makes sense. What advice would
you give us to make this kind of innovation more practical and valuable for farmers

## Q6: What advice would you give us to make this kind of innovation more practical for farmers?

A6: One thing I’ve learned is that farming is tough. It’s costly, the margins are slim,
and farmers are usually stretched thin. Getting big operations to change their processes
is a real uphill battle—especially if it adds steps or costs.

[© 2025 - Content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International license](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
[The repository used to create this website is available at
gitlab.igem.org/2025/shenfan-china.](https://gitlab.igem.org/2025/shenfan-china)

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# Engineering Success

This study explored the efficiency and mechanism of rumen biomimetic microbiota for
high-efficiency fermentation of corn straw to produce VFAs, and constructed the VFA
production performance of rumen biomimetic microbiota at different substrate concentrations
in an semi-continuous reactor.

We developed two versions of the system. Version I:Biomimicry Strategy primarily adopted a
biomimetic approach, in which rumen biomimetic microbiota efficiently hydrolyzed and
acidified corn straw. Version II:Beyond Biomimicry further advanced the process by
transforming the traditional batch fermentation mode into a semi-continuous fermentation
system, thereby improving the stability and efficiency of VFA production.

Biomimicry Strategy
Beyond Biomimicry

We conducted batch fermentation using serum bottles.Corn straw of 7.5 g, rumen liquid of
100 mL, and nutrient solution of 200 mL were mixed in 500 mL serum bottle to make a corn
straw content of 2.5% (w/v). The nutrient solution including trace element solution,
buffer solution, macroelement solution and reducing agent solution was prepared
according to Menke and Steingass (1988) to buffer the system pH and provide the
inorganic salts and trace elements for rumen microorganisms. The serum bottles were
blown with nitrogen for 5 min to make anaerobic condition, and an airbag of 250 mL was
connected to collect biogas. The fermentation systems were cultured at 39 ℃ in a
constant temperature incubator (HZQ-F160, Shanghai Baidian Instrument Equipment Co.,
Ltd, China) at a stirring rate of 120 r/min for 72 h(see Fig 1). Three parallel
experiments were performed, and 18 identical reactors were used for experiments.
Sampling was conducted only one time in one reactor to prevent the influence from
fermentation broth volume change. The fermentation broth samples were collected at 2, 6,
12, 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively, which were centrifuged at 10000 r/min for 10 min.
The supernatant was used for VFA and SCOD determination, and centrifuged solid of three
samples were mixed and put in a -80 ℃ refrigerator before metagenomic sequencing
analysis. Corn straw residues were used for analyzing straw chemical composition.

![](https://static.igem.wiki/teams/5997/engineering/one.webp)

We transformed the traditional batch fermentation mode into a semi-continuous
fermentation process. We added feeding and discharging systems at the beginning and end
of the fermentation tank(see Figure 2). Compared with the traditional method, this
enables continuous fermentation, thereby increasing the output efficiency and
facilitating future industrial scale-up.A long-term rumen fermentation experiment was
carried out in a 1.2 L reactor with a 0.8 L working volume (see supplementary material).
The feeding and discharging of the reactor were carried out by a peristaltic pump and
the circulating heated water was used to maintain a constant temperature of 39℃ in the
reactor. The 39℃ simulates the temperature in ruminant rumen and maintains the maximum
activity of rumen microorganisms. A magnetic stirrer with continuous stirring at a speed
of 140 r/min was used to simulate the peristaltic function. Hydraulic and solids
retention time of this reactor was 8 d to prevent loss of rumen microorganisms and
inadequate hydrolysis of substrate. Intermittent discharging and feeding were used to
simulate the feeding behavior of ruminants. Corn straw load in this reactor increased
sequentially from 2.5%, 5.0%, and 8.0%, respectively. This reactor was run for 60 d at
each corn straw load for a total of 180 d. The long-term rumen fermentation experiment
was started by mixing 20 g of corn straw with 267 mL of rumen liquid and 533 mL of
artificial saliva. Every day, 100 mL of reactor mixture was removed and corn straw mixed
with 100 mL of artificial saliva was added into this reactor. The pH, VS, VFAs, and SCOD
concentration of the excluded mixture from the reactor were determined. The 5, 10, 30,
70, 90, 120, 140, 160, and 180 d mixture solids were subjected to subsequent amplicon
sequencing. A higher 10% (w/v) corn straw load was tried in this reactor. However, the
10% (w/v) corn straw load hindered the operation of this reactor due to the high water
absorption of the dried corn straw. Thus, subsequent experiments were not conducted with
10% (w/v) or higher corn straw loads.

![](https://static.igem.wiki/teams/5997/engineering/two.webp)

Figure 2. Equipment Arrangement Diagram in Version II

[© 2025 - Content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International license](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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{% extends "layout.html" %}
{% block title %}Experiments{% endblock %}
{% block lead %}Describe the research, experiments, and protocols you used in your project. It is designed to provide sufficient information for other teams to replicate our work.{% endblock %}
{% block page\_content %}

## What Should this Page Contain?

---

Provide comprehensive, step-by-step protocols for all experiments conducted. Include a list of materials, reagents, and equipment used. Specify concentrations, volumes, incubation times, temperatures, and other critical parameters. Document any modifications or optimizations made to standard protocols.

Explain the purpose of each experiment and its relevance to your project goals. Describe the experimental design, including controls and replicates. Provide a clear rationale for the chosen methods and approaches.

Document any troubleshooting steps taken and optimizations made during the experimental process. Share any lessons learned that could benefit future teams.

## Inspirations

---

* [2024 Heidelberg](https://2024.igem.wiki/heidelberg/experiments)
* [2024 Marburg](https://2024.igem.wiki/marburg/experiments)
* [2024 EPFL](https://2024.igem.wiki/epfl/experiments)
* [2023 Estonia-TUIT](https://2023.igem.wiki/estonia-tuit/experiments)

{% endblock %}

{% extends "layout.html" %}
{% block title %}Results{% endblock %}
{% block lead %}Present the results of your project, along with a detailed analysis and discussion of their significance. Also outline future plans and reflections on the impact of your project.{% endblock %}
{% block page\_content %}

## What Should this Page Contain?

---

* Clearly and objectively describe the results of your experiments and research.
* Use tables, graphs, and images to visualize your data.
* Discuss the implications of your findings in the context of your project goals.
* Highlight any trends, patterns, or significant observations.
* Include an analysis summary section to synthesize your findings and discuss their overall significance.
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* Explain what went wrong and what you learned from these experiences.
* Discuss potential improvements or alternative approaches.
* Emphasize the importance of scientific honesty and transparency.

## Inspirations

---

* [2024 Heidelberg](https://2024.igem.wiki/heidelberg/results)
* [2024 Marburg](https://2024.igem.wiki/marburg/results)
* [2024 EPFL](https://2024.igem.wiki/epfl/results)
* [2024 UToronto](https://2024.igem.wiki/utoronto/results)
* [2024 Marburg](https://2024.igem.wiki/marburg/results)
* [2024 Sydney-Australia](https://2024.igem.wiki/sydney-australia/results)
* [2024 Toulouse-INSA-UPS](https://2024.igem.wiki/toulouse-insa-ups/results)
* [2024 BNDS-China](https://2024.igem.wiki/bnds-china/results)
* [2024 Vilnius-Lithuania](https://2024.igem.wiki/vilnius-lithuania/results)
* [2024 XMU-China](https://2024.igem.wiki/xmu-china/results)
* [2023 Estonia-TUIT](https://2023.igem.wiki/estonia-tuit/results)

{% endblock %}