Cycle Graph

Cycle Overview

The development of our project followed a structured and interconnected process that created a reality where a deeply affected personal experience transformed into a viable and scalable solution for food waste management.

With Cycle 1 focusing on the early stages of our project development, discovery stands as the central theme and pillar of this cycle. Starting from personal encounters with food waste followed by site visits, expert interviews, and policy research, the cycle ultimately manifested a well-defined problem and a validated concept for implementing efficient food waste treatment. This built a foundation for our project to naturally flow into Cycle 2.

Cycle 2 is where the backbone is built through experimentation and engineering success. Transforming ideas and concepts into tangible experimental results, the conducted experiment and countless failed test runs, the cycle ensured that our solution was scientifically grounded and accurate. This led us to proudly establish and present our engineering success, wherein the results get fed into Cycle 3.

Cycle 3, built around the transition into real-world impact, consisted of the gathering of consumer insights, consideration of ethical and governance frameworks, and analysis of market potential. This stage effectively built a clear potential pathway and direction for the scaling of our project by positioning us in a grand network of collaborations, partnerships, and outreach campaigns.

With each cycle building upon the previous, the project moved through the process of discovery, experiment, and real-world implications. The intricate process allowed us to successfully build a simple idea and turn an underlying issue into a scientifically robust solution that extends to infinite potential in more efficient food waste management.

Cycle 1

1-1 Personal Experience

The process starts off by reflecting upon individual encounters and confrontations with the issue of food waste management. During lunchtime at school, the school nutritionist would often joke around as we ate lunch and listened to her complain about how much food waste was left over by students every day. She shared her frustrations as she took us on a quick tour of the kitchen bins that were overflowing with trays of perfectly good food. Seeing this waste firsthand was shocking and eye-opening, allowing us to recognize the sheer amount of perfectly edible food that was being discarded daily in our community, giving rise to potential concerns in this field that are yet to be explored. The strong and personal connection became the driving force behind the further exploration and identification of the global issue of food waste management and discardment.

Nutritionist

Contributions:

• Reminded us that the trays of food waste we see every day represent a global issue, one that over a third of food waste is produced each year.


• Emphasized that cultivating the habit of appreciative food is crucial, while properly handling food waste is also an essential step—trying to minimize the consequences of massive food waste issues.


• Learned that we cannot solve the problem with awareness of food waste. This motivates us to explore biotechnology as a tool to turn unavoidable food waste into a resource.

Following her advice, our team began to review:

• What can we do to turn food waste into useful resources through biotechnology?


• What crises arise from food waste?

1-2 Identification

The realization of the broader issue of food waste drove us to dig deeper into the causes and effects of food waste management. Connecting personal experiences and frustrations, we interviewed and visited a local incineration plant, Shulin Refuse Incineration Plant, to broaden our understanding of the global context of food waste disposal and management. This process aided us in recognizing that waste contributes substantially to both environmental issues, along with the expensive production cost of food waste pretreatment enzymes, further confirming our motive to further explore the scale of the problem and opportunities for a meaningful change. With this clear identification of the problem in mind, we were ready to move on to in-depth research on the topic at hand.

Shulin Refuse Incineration Plant

Contributions:

• Gave us insight into how large-scale integration requires alignment with municipal waste treatment systems, which leads to potential future stakeholder–government collaboration.


• Emphasized that BSF-based pretreatment could not only reduce moisture and improve calorific value, but also divert organic waste, which lowers environmental burdens.


• Stressed that food waste is heterogeneous—containing oils, cellulose-rich residues, and plastics—that complicate processing efficiency.

Following their advice, our team began to review:

• How can we make pre-treatment more effective to lower operating costs?


• How BSF pretreatment affects the calorific value of food waste destined for incineration?


• Whether mixed waste input (oils, inorganic matter, etc.) alters BSF efficiency or the requirement for pre-sorting?

1-3 Research

Building on the problem we identified, we entered the research phase to gather a deeper understanding of food waste management. To gain insight into the topic, we further interviewed and visited biotechnology companies such as Monster Biotech and an NGO, the Taiwan People's Food Bank Association, to learn about existing waste policies and regulations. As we spoke with biotech companies and field industry experts, we gained valuable insights into innovative technologies and current black soldier flies integration in the handling of food waste.

Moreover, we've conducted a comprehensive survey to evaluate the public acceptance of the integration of black soldier flies in the process of food waste management. The survey gathered data and information on the public's level of understanding of black soldier flies and identified their perceived opinions and concerns in terms of hygiene and safety. The responses helped us identify gaps in awareness and common misconceptions, allowing us to strategize on future community engagement and policy alignment.

In addition, through in-depth policy and government alignment research, we've identified the importance of integrating BSFL solutions with hygiene and safety standards, inspired by EU guidelines. These findings highlighted opportunities for regulatory development, innovation, and alignment with global sustainability goals like the UN SDGs.

By combining insights from non-profit organizations, industry leaders, and the general public throughout our research stage, we've developed a comprehensive understanding of the issue of food waste and built a strong foundation for the upcoming stage of designing our solution.

Monster Biotech

Contributions:

• Provided context on enzyme production for industrial purposes as heavily influenced by cost, secretion efficiency, and stability.


• Highlighted the importance of comparing our BSF-derived enzymes against these standards to assess cost-effectiveness and activity.


• Cautioned that enzyme secretion in E.coli can be unpredictable, with risks of weak expression, protein misfolding, or low extracellular activity.

Following his advice, our team began to review:

• Which commercial enzyme blends are most relevant for benchmarking BSF-derived enzymes in terms of cost and activity.


• Whether engineered BSF lines themselves might eventually become a more direct long-term production system.

Taiwan People's Food Bank Association

Contributions:

• Clarified that food waste is not only an environmental issue but a matter of social equity, as redistributing edible food to vulnerable communities can both reduce waste and care for vulnerable groups.


• Addressed that food waste is currently solved on the symptoms rather than its root cause, which alerts us that the root solution should focus on preventing waste from occurring in the first place.


• Acknowledged that food waste requires combining technical innovation with social responsibility, ensuring both reduction and reuse happen before energy-intensive treatments like composting or incineration.

Following their advice, our team began to review:

• What can we do to prevent food waste at its root, instead of only treating the leftovers?


• What can we do to ensure our solution connects with existing policies and global goals, such as the UN SDGs?

Survey 1


Policy research

1-4 Solution Design & Professional Validation

With a solid understanding of the problem from our research, we moved into designing our solution. Professors specializing in related studies and fields guided us with scientific perspectives and pointed us toward relevant studies. To ensure the scientific accuracy and soundness of our solution after designing it, we sought professional validations from professors who specialized in related fields of bioengineering and biotechnology. They reviewed our experimental designs, offering invaluable advice and feedback on further refinements and improvements, allowing us to minimize experimental errors while maximizing scientific rigor and accuracy. The academic mentorship and guidance strengthened the credibility of our project while providing us with the necessary confidence and ground to advance toward engineering successes.

Professors

Prof. Yo-Chia Chen

Prof. Chen at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) has a PhD in agricultural chemistry from National Taiwan University (NTU), specializing in gastrointestinal microorganisms, genetic engineering, and enzymology.

Contribution

• Clarified the biological limitations of BSF larvae in cellulose degradation, thereby sharpening our rationale for endo-glucanase as the critical enzyme.


• Directed our project towards a more measurable and feasible scope—from broad food waste to vegetable waste.


• Distinguished the unique niche of BSF (lipid-rich biomass and circular economy applications) and urged us to emphasize this value.

Following his advice, our team began to review:

• The scope of our feedstock, narrowing from general food waste to fruit and vegetable fibers, to ensure specificity on cellulose degradation and strong data justification on the issue.


• Reinforcement on the reason why endoglucanase is the most essential enzyme to introduce in this process, and contrasting it with commercial alternatives.


• Pros and cons of BSF, highlighting their lipid-rich biomass and circular economy potential to differentiate our project from conventional waste-management approaches

Prof. Meng Menghsiao,

Prof. Meng at National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) has a PhD in Microbiology from Michigan State University, specializing in biotechnology and molecular biology.

Contribution

• Highlighted that directly culturing microbes can often produce higher enzyme yields than E. coli expression, and that commercially available enzymes are generally much cheaper


• Emphasized that breaking down cellulose alone would not solve the food waste problem, since pectin, hemicellulose, and other complex plant polymers are also present


• Cautioned that E. coli does not naturally secrete proteins efficiently, even with signal peptides. This means that while expression may occur, enzyme activity outside the cell is not guaranteed. Additional issues, such as weak transcription, protein misfolding, or low activity, could also occur

Following his advice, our team began to review:

• Commercial enzyme benchmarks by recognizing that microbial culturing can yield higher enzyme outputs, we wanted to evaluate available enzyme blends to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the output


• The genetic ability of E.coli, including secretion and risk of misfolding, is a challenge that we have to explore beforehand to improve extracellular enzyme release and consider possible solutions


• Long-term engineered BSF feasibility is an important factor to consider as we want to lengthen our company's contribution to society. We assessed the long-term potential of creating BSF lines with enhanced enzymatic capacity for a more integrated solution

Associate Researcher, Zhao Chen

Associate Researcher. Zhao at the Academy of National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration specializes in synthetic biology, with an emphasis on exploring the biosynthetic pathways of microbe and plant-derived active natural products, constructing high-yield microbial strains, and developing innovative grain storage bioagents.

Contribution

• Coached us to corporate and reach out to more biotechnology companies, as it is essential to identify the market gap and find a niche product


• Warned that co-expression of two proteins could compromise cell viability, potentially lowering the final yield of our product


• Suggested future exploration of protein modification approaches, such as altering amino acid structure and modifying the secondary active site, to enhance enzyme performance

Following his advice, our team began to review:

• Engagement with the biotechnology market by examining potential partnership opportunities to clarify our project's niche and goals


• Evaluation of the biological implications of protein co-expression on cell viability and product yield, refining our experimental design to ensure thoroughness


• Exploration of protein engineering strategies, including Alphafold, amino acid substitutions, and active site modifications, to strengthen enzyme functionality

Dean of Research and Development, Zhi-Qing Lin

Dean of Research and Development Zhi-Qing Lin at Koum Shan University (KSU) is a Professor at the Plant Technology Research Center and has a PhD from National Taiwan University (NTU), specializing in plant and microbial biology, life science, and bioindustry sciences.

Contribution

• Cautioned that the attempt to engineer E.coli to express multiple enzymes, such as amylases and trypsin, would overload the host and reduce production efficiency


• Suggested that focus should be placed on cellulase and related enzymes that directly enhance fiber degradation, since the main issue of the Black Soldier Fly Food Waste Recycling System is the fiber in the food waste that prevents the black soldier fly from digesting


• Emphasized that cost-efficiency must remain the central place, recommending that enzyme strategies be targeted to complement black soldier fly digestibility rather than reinforce less impactful proteins

Following his advice, our team began to review:

• Solutions to solve host capacity, recognizing that engineering E.coli to express multiple genes could overload the system and lower production efficiency


• Cellulase prioritization, focusing on enzymes that directly enhance fiber degradation, as the indigestibility of fiber within the waste cycling system is the main issue


• Cost-efficiency considerations, ensuring that enzyme strategies are designed to complement BSF digestibility rather than reinforce less impactful proteins

Assistant Prof. Chin-Mei Lee

Assistant Prof. Lee at National Taiwan University (NTU) has a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Michigan State University, specializing in plant circadian rhythms, plant stress responses, molecular biology, and regulation of protein ubiquitination.

Contribution

• Provided access to her laboratory at National Taiwan University, offering a professional environment and resources that significantly enhanced the quality and accuracy of our experiments


• Advised us on experimental troubleshooting, giving constructive feedback when results did not meet expectations, pointing out possible adjustments and improvements in methodology


• Demonstrated experimental techniques directly, giving us step-by-step instructions through hands-on practice, which strengthened our ability to replicate proper procedures


• Supported us by purchasing essential experimental materials, including the key enzymes endoglucanase and YebF, which were critical to our project's progress. This not only supplied us with high-quality reagents but also taught us how to plan resource allocation based on research priorities

Following his advice, our team began to review:

• Laboratory practices, building stronger fundamentals by learning within a professional research setting, applying standardized protocols, and handling advanced lab equipment to improve accuracy and reproducibility


• Troubleshooting strategies, developing the ability to evaluate unexpected results, identify possible causes of error, and refine experimental methods, rather than repeating procedures without direction


• Hands-on skills, practicing experimental demonstrations under his guidance, which helped us internalize correct techniques and reduce variability across our protocols


• Resource management, understanding how to align our hypotheses with available reagents, and recognizing the importance of prioritizing materials like endoglucanase and YebF for efficient project progression

Prof. Ying-Chou Chen

Prof. Chen at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) has a PhD in genetics from Michigan State University, specializing in synthetic biology, genetic engineering, yeast genetics, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Contribution

• Illustrated how proper lab procedures are fundamental to experimental accuracy and demonstrated techniques by lending lab equipment to guide us in carrying out the experimental procedures


• Underscored that experimental direction should be hypothesis-driven: start with a clear question, then choose appropriate tools rather than trying many methods without focus


• Trained our understanding of how to standardize our lab protocols to reduce variability and acknowledge which hypotheses we want to prioritize first and which tools best suit them

Following his advice, our team began to review:

• Laboratory practices, establishing strong fundamentals in the experimental procedures that follow standardized protocols and proper techniques to maintain accuracy and reproducible results


• Hypothesis testing, prioritizing clear research objectives to guide the selection of tools and techniques, rather than pursuing unfocused trial-and-error approaches


• Protocol standardization, refining our workflows to reduce variability while identifying which hypotheses to test first, and aligning them with the most suitable experimental instruments

Cycle 2: Engineering Success

Engineering success in our project was achieved through an iterative process of designing, building, testing, and learning that guided further improvements and refinements. Experimental data and feedback guided adjustments and optimization in every step of our experimental design and execution, laying the groundwork for moving toward market analysis and commercialization in Cycle 3.

Please refer to our Engineering Success Page.

Cycle 3

3-1 Professional insight & market analysis

With feasible data and experimental results, we sought professional insight to validate both the technical feasibility and market potential of our solution. We consulted biotechnology companies, Koum Yen Biotech and JM Material Technology, to review our design and provide recommendations for scaling and efficiency. Market analysis was conducted to identify market potential and evaluate competitors and manufacturing scalability in the existing market.

Furthermore, our survey reveals user motivations in purchasing certain products through the DiSC model, measuring the psychological tendencies that affect customers in considering our product. These findings validated market potential, addressed the target audience, and shaped strategies for the commercialization of our product. By combining a multifaceted insight with expert feedback, public response, and analysis, we confirmed our approach and identified key opportunities for future ethical evaluation and commercialization.

Koum Yen Biotech

Contribution

• Emphasized that farmers would value measurable results, such as higher larvae yields, less preprocessing labor, and lower feed costs


• Informed that scalability depends on cost control, with labor, utilities, and substrate sorting as the main expenses


• Reminded us that regulation is decisive; certifications for animal feed and food safety are essential for market entry.

Following his advice, our team began to review:

• Farmer priorities, focusing on measurable outcomes such as increased larvae yields, reduced preprocessing labor, and lower feed costs


• Scalability factors, analyzing how cost control—particularly labor, utilities, and substrate sorting—determines the feasibility of expansion


• Regulatory requirements recognize the need for animal feed and food safety certifications as essential steps for market entry.

JM Material Technology

Contribution

• Underscored that scaling the BSF solution from laboratory setups to industrial applications requires automation and robust hardware design


• Highlighted that BSF processing must integrate with sensors, control systems, and real-time monitoring to ensure efficiency and reproducibility


• Spotlighted that engineering precision is crucial when handling heterogeneous food waste streams


• Introduced new technologies in the food waste cleaning industry, which focus on removing odors

Following his advice, our team began to review:

• Sensor integration, exploring how monitoring technologies could be incorporated into BSF digestion setups for real-time feedback


• Engineering improvements, identifying solutions to enhance consistency and reliability in waste processing


• System design, evaluating whether modular or scalable units could reduce barriers to wider adoption in the waste management sector

Survey 2

3-2 Ethical consideration and reflection

Professional insight and market analysis then led us to the question of ethical consideration and reflection. To ensure that our project was ethically sound and socially responsible, we drew on in-depth research that ultimately guided us in decisions on ethical precautions and community engagement strategies, strengthening the societal acceptance and sustainability of our project.

See PDF Below:

3-3 Establish commercial pathway

With market validation and ethical considerations taken into account, we started developing commercial pathways for the integration of our solution in the market. Collaborating with a biotechnology company, Circular Power Biotech Biology, we've created business models that outline entrepreneurship and future marketing for our project. The establishment of commercial pathways positioned us for real-world impact, transforming our solution into a commercially viable and scalable food waste management solution.

Circular Power Biotech Biology

Contribution

• Explained how waste-to-energy systems depend on both feedstock consistency and pre-treatment efficiency


• Emphasized that biological pre-treatment could improve waste uniformity and enhance downstream energy recovery


• Highlighted that current energy plants face challenges when handling food waste with high moisture content and irregular composition

Following his advice, our team began to review:

• BSF pretreatment, assessing its potential to increase calorific value and reduce water content for energy recovery processes


• Infrastructure alignment, examining what logistical and structural adjustments would be required to integrate BSF systems with existing waste-to-energy plants


• Hybrid systems, evaluating whether combining approaches could deliver measurable efficiency gains

Please refer to our Entrepreneurship Page.

3-4 Product promotion

To increase the awareness and recognition of our project, we initiated outreach educational campaigns to emphasize the impact of food waste while highlighting the benefits and potential of our solution. Engaging in retirement homes, elementary schools, and orphanages, we held informative and hands-on activities that sparked curiosity, fostered interest in synthetic biology, and encouraged participants to reflect on their own waste habits. We aim to spread our message to a wider audience that is not just limited to the scientific community and foster a culture of sustainability and responsibility around food waste.

Please refer to our Education Page.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our integrated human practice and development map represents the transformation of a thought into action and purposeful impact. Through a structured and interconnected process, we have progressed from discovery to experimentation to implication, with each cycle or step extending and reinforcing the last. The iterative process of integrating research, collaboration, and community engagement revealed a pathway and a unique journey addressing the underlying issue of global food waste management. The journey demonstrated how innovation, meaningful research, and extended collaboration may emerge when commitment and social responsibility work hand in hand, even if everything was initiated from just a single thought.