SDG Overview

SDG Goal 1 No Poverty

Our experiment aligns with SDG Goal 1.5 : Eliminating/severely decreasing root rot disease will bring tremendous benefit to poorer communities around the world, giving them some breathing space in vulnerable situations. Without root rot, agricultural production will rise; this is good for both commercial and subsistence farmers. Increased output on commercial farms causes food prices to drop, and subsistence farmers' surpluses each year will increase, increasing their resilience against droughts, floods, and anything disastrous.

SDG Goal 2 Zero Hunger

Our experiment aligns with SDG Goal 2.4 : Of course, wiping out root rot disease would boost food production, especially in areas where agricultural education level is low and wealth level is also low. This is because farmers in these areas can't afford to or don't know to do crop rotation due to a lack of education or simply convenience and short-term gain, and continuous monocropping retains root rot pathogens in the soil, so these areas are hit the hardest with root rot. Not only will PATRONUM help eliminate hunger, it will also improve the soil by utilizing biological methods instead of chemical fertilizers that pollute water. Thus, PATRONUM solves problems both in the short-term and in the long run, enhancing food production and making it sustainable for the future and adaptable to climate change. It's a win-win!

SDG Goal 3 Good Health and Well-being

Our experiment aligns with SDG Goal 3.9 : Chemical fertilizers, if used excessively or incorrectly, can pollute the air, water, and soil. Nitrogen-based fertilizers produce nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas, contributing to climate change. Nitrogen and phosphorous that run off into water sources promote algal growth, making the water unsafe for people and marine life alike. And of course, continuous and over-reliance on fertilizers disrupts nutrients in the soil, which deteriorates soil health. PATRONUM focuses on the biological method of inoculant formation to control root rot, which is safer for the soil and, in turn, causes colonization of bacteria for long-term root rot suppression. As a cherry on top, PATRONUM is competitive in terms of cost because it's more stable and self-sustaining compared to single-time enzymatic fertilizers. Overall, the reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers will reduce pollution in air, water, and soil, improving overall human health.

SDG Goal 4 Quality Education

Our human practices aligns with SDG Goal 4.7 & SDG Goal 4.B : Education is fundamental to our future, and that does not leave out farmers. To help feed themselves and the world, they need to get to know their fertilizers and learn more. We have already turned and will continue to turn abstract synthetic biology principles into usable skills for the farmers, through on-farm lessons and observations in the field. Passing out brochures and making short videos all made it easier for knowledge to reach the fields, especially in rural areas. We also made educational videos and games, like the Bio Uno game, for students at school to engage. Teaching about biological control is effective and sustainable for farming, and for students, it fuels their passion for science research.