How the NASA-Backed Project µBites is 3D Printing Plastic-Derived Cookies for Space Missions

Researchers at Southern Illinois University (SIU) Carbondale are using biotechnology and 3D printing to explore whether plastic and agricultural waste can be turned into food for the µBites project. The team presented the project on August 24th at ACS Fall 2026, a meeting of the American Chemical Society. The research is linked to the NASA Deep Space Food Challenge, which aims to develop ways to produce food with limited resources. That need is especially important for long-duration space missions, like a round trip to Mars that would take three years.

Dr. Lahiru Jayakody, who led the µBites project (Credit: SIU Carbondale Communications via ACS)

The Process, Step by Step

The process starts with PET and plant-based waste. The researchers use oxidative hydrothermal dissolution, a method that combines water, oxygen, high temperatures and pressure to break these materials into smaller molecules.

Several yeast strains then convert these compounds into protein-rich biomass and other ingredients. The team has also developed microorganisms that can produce substances to improve the food’s properties. One yeast strain can produce vanillin, which provides vanilla’s flavor and aroma. Another can use ethylene glycol derived from PET to produce beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A.