Congrats Dr Ezequiel Santillan on being featured in PNAS for his contributions as a project manager & scientist to groundbreaking research on transforming industrial wastewater into eco-friendly products!

Microbes are paving the way for a circular bioeconomy, and the research at SCELSE, in collaboration with other academic institutions, agencies, and industries in Singapore and the UK, is a shining example of innovation at the intersection of sustainability and science.

As highlighted in PNAS, the team has developed a way to turn nutrient-rich soybean wastewater into protein-rich microbial feed for aquaculture—a sustainable alternative to conventional fishmeal.

“The ultimate goal is to transform industries, so waste gets cycled back into production rather than ending up in landfills,” shares Dr Santillan in the feature.

With the potential to significantly reduce the environmental impact of aquaculture, mitigate the impact of F&B industry side-streams, and contribute to Singapore’s 30×30 food security goals, this research is a game-changer.

“I am truly honoured to have SCELSE’s work featured in PNAS. Thanks to Science Journalist Carolyn Beans, who attended my talk at ASM Microbe 2024 and brought this story to a global audience. This recognition is indeed gratifying,” says Dr Santillan.

The next step? Scaling up. The team is now working on developing an industrial-scale demonstration facility capable of producing tons of microbial protein, showcasing the economic feasibility of this sustainable solution.

Read the full PNAS story: ‘Microbes could convert industrial wastewater into ecofriendly products’ https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2426630122