About 150 words.
Soil erosion is a major driver of land degradation, threatening food security and biodiversity worldwide. Conventional treatments are often costly or environmentally invasive. This project proposes a synthetic biology approach to restore degraded soils by producing bioactive compounds from agricultural waste.
Using a redesigned GH11 xylanase enzyme, the system converts lignocellulosic residues—such as corn husks or sugarcane bagasse—into xylooligosaccharides (XOS). These compounds have demonstrated potential to improve soil structure, enhance microbial activity, and increase water retention, helping stabilize vulnerable soils.
The enzyme will be expressed in a lab-safe microbial host using an optimized genetic construct. The goal is to create a modular, low-cost platform that valorizes local waste streams while supporting regenerative land practices.
By integrating synthetic biology, circular bioeconomy, and sustainable agriculture, this project offers an innovative pathway to combat erosion and promote ecological resilience in at-risk landscapes.
a. Explain your motivation for pursuing your project
Soil erosion is one of the most pressing challenges for ecosystems and agriculture, especially in regions like Ecuador where deforestation, intensive farming, and poor land management accelerate land degradation. During fieldwork, I’ve witnessed how erosion directly threatens food systems and biodiversity. However, I also saw the potential in agricultural residues — abundant, undervalued, and rich in biomass — as raw material for sustainable innovation.
This project is driven by the vision of converting local agro-waste into bioactive compounds that can regenerate degraded soils. Through synthetic biology, I aim to develop low-cost, field-deployable tools that support circular economy practices, restore ecosystems, and empower local communities to protect their land.
b. Describing the current state of knowledge related to your project. Try to cite at least 2 peer-reviewed research papers.
Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are short-chain carbohydrates derived from xylan, a key component of plant hemicellulose. While XOS are primarily known for their prebiotic effects in human health, emerging evidence supports their application in soil systems — enhancing microbial diversity, improving soil structure, and promoting nutrient cycling.
Bonanomi et al. (2020) showed that repeated applications of organic amendments, including xylan-rich sources like alfalfa and manure, significantly improved microbial diversity, enzyme activity, and crop productivity compared to synthetic inputs — highlighting the importance of organic matter in soil regeneration.