Yeast engineered to convert plastic waste into edible protein for space and disaster relief

Researchers have programmed yeast to transform PET plastic and agricultural leftovers into edible proteins and flavor molecules, effectively turning trash into food. The approach offers a novel upcycling method and could support human sustenance in disaster zones or long-duration space missions. The work was presented at the ACS Fall 2026 meeting as part of a NASA-linked project.