1. Overview

1.1 Introduction

Our Integrated Human Practice provided a structured framework for guiding the NutriBoost project from concept to a viable solution for "hidden hunger". Through an iterative three-phase process—problem validation, solution development, and implementation strategy—we refined our microbial fertilizer by integrating two key layers of insights: broad public feedback from questionnaires and in-depth expertise from cross-field stakeholders. This dual engagement ensures the product's ethical foundation, social impact, and alignment with real-world needs.

To start problem validation, we distributed a survey to 506 respondents, including office workers, students, agricultural workers, and retired individuals, to cover diverse backgrounds. The survey results revealed critical findings: only 10.57% of respondents clearly understood "hidden hunger", over half were entirely unfamiliar with it, and most regularly consumed rice or wheat—confirming these staples as high-priority targets for biofortification. The public also showed a stronger preference for food-based solutions over supplements, with 70.57% acknowledging their diet needed improvement but only 29.43% using iron or zinc supplements, and held mixed views on GMOs. These insights directly guided our focus on non-GMO microbial fertilizers and highlighted the need for transparent education.

Building on this public input, we engaged with diverse experts to shape the project's scientific and commercial path. Scientific experts like Dr. Chen—an experienced professor of clinical molecular diagnosis and medical genetics—and Mr. Kong—a crop breeding and transgenic plants researcher—provided feedback on experimental methodology, safety concerns, and regulatory policies. Agricultural practitioner Ms. Yu, a Liaoning farmer who grows cherries, corn, and sweet potatoes, grounded our approach in practical farmer needs, emphasizing that yield and crop taste drive adoption and that government support boosts trust in new technologies. Industry pioneers like Mr. Ye, a biomedical company professional focused on zinc and iron supplements, and Prof. Fan Minrui and Prof. Zhou Feng—plant metabolism and root system specialists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences—offered guidance on cost analysis, market positioning, and technical refinements.

This integrated approach, combining public survey input with expert insights, keeps our project rooted in real-world applications while upholding scientific rigor. By centering the needs of end users farmers and nutrient-deficient communities and leveraging specialist expertise. We've developed a solution that addresses genuine social needs through responsible biotechnology innovation.

Figure 1. Integrated Human Practice Framework and Stakeholder Engagement Strategy

1.2 Stakeholder Analysis

To effectively understand the complex market composition surrounding micronutrient biofortification, we conducted an in-depth stakeholder analysis using the Power-Interest Matrix framework. This systematic approach enabled us to clearly classify and prioritize stakeholders, determine our market strategies, allocate resources effectively, and ensure all critical voices were heard throughout our project.

Figure 2. Stakeholder Power-Interest Matrix

Key stakeholders

Nutrition experts and research and development institutions are of high power of influence and high level of interest. This is driven by the objective to eradicate malnutrition and advance the field of nutrition science. Having the authority to set dietary guidelines and direct public research, they are crucial figures in advocating for and legitimizing nutritional innovations. Consequently, their endorsement is essential for any new solution to obtain scientific credibility and public trust.

High Power, Low Interest: Influential Observers

Government agencies for policy supports and subsidies act as primary regulators of both agricultural biotechnology and nutritional interventions. These agencies control approval procedures for microbial fertilizers and set safety standards that directly impact our marketing strategy. Dr. Chen's insights highlighted the importance of regulatory compliance, particularly regarding controlled cultivation requirements that Dr. Kong emphasized in his discussion of China's strict GM crop framework.

Low Power, High Interest: End Users and Beneficiaries

Farmers and Agricultural Cooperatives represent our direct customers with high interest in yield improvement and cost-effective solutions. Ms. Yu's feedback revealed that farmers prioritize taste of their crops and yield, requiring our marketing strategy to emphasize these co-benefits. Her preference for government-supported, "natural" or "organic" solutions guided our positioning strategy for microbial fertilizers. Moreover, families in Micronutrient-Deficient Regions are the ultimate beneficiaries of our product despite their limited individual influence. Their acceptance of such a modified fertilizer is a vital marker of social impact and long-term viability.

Low Power, Low Interest: Peripheral Stakeholders

Students are very likely to improve their diet structures based on our research, thereby boosting their cognitive development and physical growth. However, they generally exhibit lower awareness of micronutrient deficiency issues and possess little individual social influence. Therefore, our strategy involves educational outreach – such as interactive workshops and accessible informational materials – to raise awareness and foster public understanding of biofortified fertilizers.

This matrix informed our targeted engagement approach, ensuring efficient resource allocation while maintaining comprehensive stakeholder coverage throughout our IHP activities.

2. Questionnaire Analysis

2.1 Problem Identification

Our project addresses the challenge of “hidden hunger”, a form of malnutrition characterized by inadequate intake of essential micronutrients as iron and zinc. Rather than relying upon pills or pharmaceutical supplements, our approach focuses biofortification through soil enhancement to increase the uptake of iron and zinc in root systems. By doing so, we aim to enrich the micronutrient abundance in commonly consumed carbohydrates – rice, wheat, maize – to improve the diet structures of the general public.

Prior to the implementation of our project, it is essential and crucial to assess the public awareness and contextual factors related to hidden hunger. Key guiding questions that navigate our subsequent research includes: the level of public recognition of hidden hunger as an issue; the consumption patterns of staple crops; preferences for dietary or supplemental-based solutions; their attitudes towards non-GMO biological methods. To systematically investigate these aspects, we administered a survey. The objective of this collection is to align our project with documented public needs, making sure that our motives are evidence-based and practically helping our targeted consumers.

2.2 Survey Analysis

2.2.1 Respondents

As of this analysis, a total of 506 online responses have been collected. The majority of respondents are office workers, accounting for 71.82%, followed by students at 19.96%. In addition of these two primary groups, a diverse range of participants – including retired individuals and agricultural workers – also contributed, providing a broader perspective on public reactions to our questions. By incorporating data from various socio-economic backgrounds and life stages, the representativeness of the findings is strengthened and it will reflect a wide spectrum of experiences and knowledge levels. In terms of gender distribution, approximately two thirds are male (66.86%), while one third are female (33.14%).

Figure 3 . Occupational and societal roles of respondents

Figure 4. Gender distribution of respondents

2.2.2 Public awareness and Understanding

Figure 5. Level by which the respondents know about hidden hunger

Among all of the respondents, only 10.57% reported that they clearly understand the concept of hidden hunger. The fact that more than a quarter have heard the term but lack a detailed understanding, while over half are entirely unfamiliar with it reveals a significant knowledge gap among the general public. Such low level of awareness underscores the critical need for education and outreach efforts in this area. Without the explanation of this crucial concept, individuals may underestimate the seriousness of hidden hunger or fail to recognize its subtle but harmful effects on health. Our project must therefore prioritize accessible, targeted awareness campaigns to inform and engage diverse populations, raising awareness of hidden hunger’s consequences.

2.2.3 Perceived Vulnerability and Dietary Habits

When the respondents were asked who they believe suffers most from hidden hunger. The majority (63.41%) identified office workers, which unveils concerns around sedentary lifestyles combined with poor dietary choices common in urban settings. This was followed by teenagers (37.57%) and the elderly (33.46%), groups often recognized as nutritionally vulnerable due to rapid growth or age-related physiological changes.

Regarding the choice of staple foods, respondents overwhelmingly reported consuming rice (81.03%) and wheat (47.04%) most frequently. Since these crops form the foundation of dietary structures for the general public, they navigate our strategic targets for nutritional interventions. Our alignment with these staples strengthens the potential impact of our project by focusing on crops that can reach a wide audience and deliver essential micronutrients effectively.

Figure 6. Respondents’ assumption of the potential victims of hidden hunger

Figure 7 . Data of the type of carbohydrates consumed in different households

2.2.4 Health Concerns and Willingness to Change

Our results indicated people’s awareness on health-related concerns, in which 64.38% linked hidden hunger to anemia and dizziness, 54.40% to growth problems, and 49.32% to bone weakness. Additionally, 29.43% of respondents had already sought medical attention or purchased either iron or zinc supplements, and 70.76% acknowledged that their diet needs improvement. This reflects a clear recognition of the problem and an openness to change—particularly if solutions are accessible and cost-effective.

Figure 8 . Data of respondents’ understanding of the potential symptoms of hidden hunger

Figure 9 . Percentage of respondents that are already consuming nutritional supplements

2.2.5 Knowledge and Communication Preferences

When it comes to micronutrient knowledge, 58.10% of respondents were unaware of food sources rich in essential minerals. However, there is a strong interest in learning more—especially through short videos (68.97%) and online articles (52.77%). This suggests that scientific communication should be delivered in simple, engaging, and visual formats, rather than dense academic language. This suggests that digital media and visually appealing content are critical tools for education, in which complex scientific concepts should be translated into interactive contents to maximize understanding and retention.

Figure 10 . Percentage of consumers that focus on the micronutrient abundance in food

Figure 11. Platform preferred by the public to spread medical knowledge

2.2.6 Attitudes towards Genetically Modified Crops

Public opinion on genetically modified (GMO) crops is divided: 29.94% support the use of iron/zinc-enriched GMOs, whereas 33.46% oppose them and 36.59% remain uncertain. Given this mixed feedback, our strategy will begin with non-GMO solutions, such as soil and microbial interventions. We will prioritize transparency, safety, and communication to build public trust.

Figure 12 . Data of consumers’ attitude and level of acceptance towards genetically modified crops

From the word cloud of our survey, we found that many respondents are not solely stating that GM crops are harmful – many are claiming that they simply don't know the effect. Such lack of definitive information is itself their greatest concern, embodying a significant communication gap between the scientific community and the public. Moreover, the concerns over safety and potential genetic mutations rings a bell to our marketing strategy, in which we should keep everything – including our invention and experimentation – more accessible.

Figure 13 and 14. Most frequently appeared phrases when consumers are asked about their concerns towards genetically modified crops

2.3 Design Implications

Our survey responses indicate a clear public preference for sustainable food-based solutions over reliance on dietary supplements. This reinforces the adaptability and usefulness of our approach, which focuses on enhancing the nutritional quality of crops at the source. To this end, we will proceed in the development of AtNAS1 (nicotinamide synthase), which involves testing mutant variants of it to identify versions with improved enzymatic activity. Once the most promising variant is selected, it will be integrated into engineered microbial strains, such as Bacillus subtilis , which are suitable for application in agricultural settings.

2.4 Conclusion

The survey unveils two key insights: plant-level nutritional enhancement aligns with public expectations, and transparent communication regarding safety is essential for acceptance. These engineered microbes will be evaluated in controlled pot and greenhouse experiments, with a focus on assessing their ability to enhance iron and zinc uptake in staple crops. Given the concerns expressed in the survey regarding environmental and food safety, we will also monitor microbial persistence and behavior in the soil. All findings—including efficacy and safety data—will be documented transparently. For public communication, we will prioritize the use of concise and accessible formats, such as short educational videos and infographic-based summaries. This will ensure that scientific results are understandable and trustworthy to a wide audience, especially for those farmers who are not experts in the field.

3. Expert Interviews

Figure 15. Structure of Expert Interviews

3.1 Medical professional: Dr. Guangquan Chen

Our first expert—Dr. Chen—is an experienced professor of Tongji University School of Medicine studying clinical molecular diagnosis and medical genetics. His focus and research on genetic heritage and maternal and infant nutrition can provide us key insights to the problem of nutritional deficiency that we are trying to mitigate, which is directly related to our target customers and market. Additionally, Dr. Chen’s clinical experiences can give us important information about patients that are suffering health problems due to micronutrient deficiency.

Specifically, his clinical research provided solid evidence for the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies, even in developed regions. The studies he brought, conducted across Anhui Province (including 124 children), Xi’an City (including pregnant women), and Henan Province (including infants), validates our project’s relevance beyond a single age group.

"Many families are unaware of or fail to monitor these deficiencies," Dr. Chen emphasized, highlighting the unnoticed status quo of micronutrient malnutrition that our biofortification approach addresses through daily staple foods rather than requiring specific screening and intervention. He also acknowledged that genetic modification methods like “Golden Rice” could theoretically boost nutrient content, but the need for controlled laboratory development is inevitable to prevent ecosystem disruption. Relevant research should not only focus on short-term efficacy, but also the potential epigenetic changes that may occur due to limited clinical trials. His evaluations pinpoint some potential fields for improvement in our wet lab, addressing safety concerns when applied to real-life agricultural settings.

Dr. Chen’s experience with traditional nutrient supplements unveils its potential limitations, including its long-term efficacy, taste issues, and side effects. However, biofortified fertilizers also have their shortcomings – it is not about which product is better, but rather how people make choices based on their personal needs. Therefore, the key is to build brand loyalty and trust from our targeted customers by campaigns and designs that satisfy their unique needs.

Traditional Supplements	Genetically Fortified
Effective for immediate use	Consistent intake and effects
More acceptable in general public	May take a long time to have effects
Poor tastes	May have ecosystem risks
Potential side effects	Huge nutrient boost
Low long-term adherence	Need to consider whether the yield and other metrics are influenced

Figure 16: Team members are interviewing Dr. Chen offline

Dr. Chen's medical expertise directly shaped our understanding of target consumers, clinical validation requirements, and safety considerations. His insights about storage requirements and soil adaptability challenges will be integrated into our experiments and business model refinement to improve the quality of our product.

3.2 Biotechnology Perspective: Mr. Xiangchao Kong

Our second interviewee, Mr. Kong, is a researcher in China Agricultural University with crop breeding and transgenic plants as his focus study fields. His knowledge about common approaches to genetically modify crops and their corresponding effects can give us crucial advice on how to efficiently treat the plants included in our project. Moreover, information regarding practices of planting genetically modified crops and potential challenges of expanding into large-scale cultivation can be included through our deep discussion with Mr. Kong about his focus areas.

During the interview, Mr. Kong confirmed that micronutrients like iron are essential to both plantations and human lives. Mr. Kong believes that our product, which, in the form of fertilizers, aims to enhance the micronutrient content of target crops, would be more advantageous over genetically edited crops—it would not directly impact the functions of the crops itself, but rather assisting them to function more efficiently. Additionally, Mr. Kong mentioned that this property could raise fewer public concerns than plants with genes directly edited.

In terms of technical experiments, Mr. Kong provided some advice based on our project framework, specifically focusing on the generalization of our product from functioning with tobacco plants to rice crops and other common plantations. He pointed out there might be certain differences between these types of plants that we need to further investigate on during extended introduction phase, but in terms of micronutrients like iron, the differences might be less significant. Meanwhile, the actual practice of our product in soil is unpredictable—there could be possibilities of genetic drift between target crops and weeds.

Critically, Mr. Kong also emphasized that food security through adequate yields must remain the top priority, stating that genetic modification should “ideally increase nutrient density while avoid inhibition of the yield, or even increase the yield.” This key insight guided our approach to ensure biofortification enhances rather than compromises agricultural productivity.

Mr. Kong’s experience in the plantation field is essential in getting us familiar with the current relevant governmental policies: He explained that the Chinese government is fairly supportive of biological investigations on plantations, while there are strict constraints in both laboratory research where a series of permissions should be guaranteed before further promotion of the technology.

Figure 17: Team members are interviewing Dr. Kong Xiangchao online

Dr. Kong's technical expertise directly informed our experimental strategy, validating our focus on AtNAS1 enzyme optimization over direct plant transformation. His regulatory insights shaped our positioning strategy to emphasize natural microbial processes that would not impose effects on original plant functions. His guidance on prioritizing precise gene-editing strategies and selecting proper plants for real-life practice will be integrated into our research methodology and timeline planning.

3.3 Agricultural Implementation: Ms. Yu

Ms. Yu, a farmer in Liaoning, China, represents our target end-user who has the possibility of actually utilizing our product, which can be designed in the form of fertilizers mixed directly into the soil. As an individual farmer, Ms. Yu primarily cultivates cherries, corns, and sweet potatoes as crops all year round. Her information about farmer preferences of costs and effects of fertilizers can help us adjust the price and function of our project in order to fit the goals of our target customers.

Ms. Yu notes that commercial fertilizers are rarely used in her region due to "inconsistent quality and high costs," in which homemade organic fertilizers are more favorable instead. Most importantly, she posits that homegrown fertilizers can enhance crop taste – a facet that farmers like her will value over nutritional content or cultivation methods.

“Consumers are more concerned with taste than with fertilizers or pesticides,” Ms. Yu explained, though she acknowledged the importance of pest and disease controls for marketing crops.

Ms. Yu's insights show that farmers focus primarily on yield and taste rather than micronutrient content, indicating the need for our marketing strategy to emphasize these immediate benefits along nutritional enhancement. Her observation that farmers are “often unfamiliar with genetically modified crops” but willing to try new fertilizers with “natural” or “organic” qualities validates our positioning approach. Critically, she noted that government support significantly influences farmer acceptance of new technologies, suggesting partnerships with agricultural departments could accelerate market adoption.

Figure 18: Team members are interviewing grassroots farmer Mrs. Yu online

Ms. Yu's perspective as a farmer directly informed our understanding of market acceptance barriers and value proposition priorities. In a nutshell, her insights on the importance of government support will be integrated into our partnership development strategy, while her preference for “natural” solutions validates our microbial fertilizer approach over synthetic alternatives.

3.4 Industry Application: Ye Mao

Mr. Ye is a professional manager and researcher in an exceptional biomedical company that produces zinc and iron supplements, helping to resolve the problem of micronutrient deficiency. The information he could provide us would enable us to learn more about the current market composition and technology of products that target the problem of nutrition deficiency among the public. Hence, a connection between the practical and experimental part of our project could be built based on this interview.

Mr. Ye Mao identified two primary strategies for addressing micronutrient deficiency: oral supplementation and food-based biofortification. He emphasized that “in underdeveloped regions, improving staple foods is often more effective because it doesn't alter existing dietary structures,” providing direct validation for our approach.

He notes that supplement R&D typically requires 10-20 people in early stages with costs ranging 600,000-800,000 RMB for pharmaceuticals (with health supplements being cheaper and having shorter approval cycles) provides valuable benchmarking for our development planning and funding requirements. Moreover, the market analysis he offered reveals that pregnant women, children, and elderly populations remain the largest consumer segments, aligning with Dr. Chen's clinical observations about high-risk groups. Knowing the fact that competition in market relies heavily on product differentiation as the “consumers generally lack expertise to judge product quality.” Therefore, it becomes crucial for us to reinforce the safety and credibility of our product, especially keeping detailed track of our research development procedures.

Critically, Mr. Ye emphasized that “supplements and biofortification complements,” which shaped a novel understanding that microbial fertilizers can coexist with traditional supplementation, serving different use cases and consumer preferences rather than directly competing in the same market segment.

Figure 19: Team members are interviewing expert Ye online

Mr. Ye’s expertise informed our business model development, particularly regarding cost structures and market positioning strategies. His emphasis on the non-competitive relationship between microbial fertilizers and traditional supplements consolidates the core advantage and differentiation of our product. Furthermore, his insights about consumer trust and quality perception will be integrated into our branding and quality assurance protocols.

3.5 Scientific Innovation: Prof. Fan Minrui and Prof. Zhou Feng

Prof. Fan Minrui and Prof. Zhou Feng from the Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences provide crucial scientific validation for our technical approach. The former’s expertise in plant metabolism and membrane proteins and the latter’s specialization in plant root systems, directly relates to our focus on AtNAS1 enzyme optimization and microbial fertilizer development.

He suggested that engineered bacteria like Bacillus subtilis – one of our vectors used – while facilitating root absorption, "may not be able to outperform natural microorganisms in their niche." He notifies that some experimentally-successful organic fertilizers have failed commercially due to this factor, informing us the necessity to simulate real-world conditions during testing and consider its relationship to adjacent ecosystems.

Both professors provided valuable insights for practical implementation, suggesting encapsulation of microorganisms in hydrogels to prevent degradation and enable gradual soil release. While this approach could improve efficiency, they acknowledged it might increase costs, requiring careful profit analysis in our business model development.

Fan emphasized that our products must constrain the level of assistance for iron and zinc uptake to avoid interference with crops’ absorption of other nutrients or enhancement of the assimilation of toxic heavy metals. This advice redirected and refined our research methodology to include comprehensive nutrient profiling rather than focusing solely on iron and zinc.

Figure 20: Team photo at CEMPS

The professors' insights were instrumental in validating our approach and highlighting future research challenges. Specifically, their perspective on natural microbial competition led us to prioritize enhancing, rather than replacing, the existing soil ecosystem. Furthermore, their safety concerns regarding nutrient balance will be directly incorporated into our experimental design and safety protocols.

4. Solution Implementation: Market Readiness and Commercialization

4.1 Proposed End Users

Our product, which is in the form of microbial fertilizers, aims to target customers from developing countries, especially countries like Sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Asia. Specifically, farmers and fertilizer producers will be the predominant consumers of our end product.

4.2 Product Highlights

Our product is relatively safe, efficient, and sustainable. At present, microbial fertilizer is mainly used to screen strains from nature. Although it is safe, its effectiveness is limited. There are few artificially modified microbial fertilizers at present. Our approach takes both safety and efficiency into account, and living bacteria in our fertilizer can continuously secrete the chelating agent needed by plants to absorb trace metal elements.

4.3 Envisioning Project Usage

We select the site-directed mutant gene that shows the highest enzyme activity and insert it into bacteria vectors. Then we inject these optimum bacteria into fertilizers, either in the form of powder or finished fertilizing products. By doing so, our product can coexist with other NPK fertilizers in soil, which guarantees both micronutrient content and annual crop yield.

5. Conclusion and Reflection

Our Integrated Human Practice activities fundamentally transformed our NutriBoost project from an isolated laboratory investigation into a comprehensive solution addressing real-world nutritional challenges. Through engagement with diverse stakeholders, we established a robust connection between scientific innovation and experiments with social impact and market viability.

5.1 Key Transformational Insights

Expert interviews with Prof. Chen and Mr. Kong validated our focus on AtNAS1 enzyme optimization aiming to solve the problem of huma nutritional deficiency while highlighting technical challenges that refined our experimental approach. Specifically, Dr. Chen's clinical evidence provided compelling validation for the scope and urgency of micronutrient deficiency, confirming our project's relevance to global problems.

The interview with farmers like Ms. Yu revealed critical insights about our potential customers’ preferences, emphasizing the effects on taste and yield of our product along with nutritional benefits. Market expert Mr. Ye's analysis of complementary rather than competitive market positioning guided our business model toward collaboration rather than direct competition with existing supplement approaches.

The convergence of regulatory insights from Mr. Kong, practical application guidance Prof. Zhou and Prof. Fan, and cost structure understanding from Mr. Ye enabled us to develop a realistic implementation timeline with clear goals and resource requirements.

5.2 Reflection on IHP Methodology

This systematic stakeholder engagement approach proved invaluable for grounding biotechnology innovation in real-world applications. The process from identifying problems, analyzing stakeholders and gathering information through close-up communications ensured our project remained responsive to genuine social needs while maintaining scientific rigor.

The diversity of perspectives—from clinical medicine to agricultural practice to market development—created a comprehensive understanding that no single expertise area could have provided. This multidisciplinary approach will continue to guide our project development as we advance toward practical implementation and market deployment.

Our IHP experience reinforced that responsible biotechnology development requires continuous connection between innovation and application, ensuring that scientific capabilities serve human needs through socially conscious and environmentally sustainable approaches.