Team:HKUST/Sustainable

ShellBi

Project
Description Design Engineering Proof of Concept Implementation Safety Contribution Notebook
Wet Lab
Experiments Results
Dry Lab
Model
Reach
Human Practice Collaboration Communication Education Sustainable
Parts
Basic Parts Composite Parts
Team
Team Attributions

Sustainable

Our Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

Overview

Mouse poison bioassay has been a gold standard of testing marine biotoxins which has ethical issues, low sensitivity and high false-positives. A positive test could result in market withdrawal or a ban on country's shellfish exports. We wish to make a self-sufficient kit for detection of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins with genetically engineered bacteria that could be done at a small-scale by even the farmers themselves. With this preliminary test kit, farmers could test and manage the harvest prior to official sanctions saving hundreds of families whose livelihoods depend on shellfish harvesting.

The biosensor by allowing detection of a wide range of toxins could give a method for quality assurance of water and sanitation practices in shellfish farms assuring good health and well being. Moreover clean and tested shellfish would be more widely available if the test is more accessible and affordable. The biosensor could also provide information about marine biotoxin producing harmful algal blooms. If so, the farmers could take necessary actions to avoid eutrophication of the water.

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

As our biosensor serves to detect unsafe levels of toxin in shellfish, this can double as an indicator as to the water quality of the marine environment the shellfish resided in. This contributes to minimizing the spread of the toxins and potentially the prevalence of harmful algal blooms (eutrophication) as the correct authorities can then be made aware of the poor water conditions. This as such contributes to the 6th SDG, specifically target 6.3 which involves improving water quality, wastewater treatment, and safe reuse.

Although different parts of the world may have their own methods of testing the water, the regular testing for shellfish batches may serve as an additional reassurance and may serve as assistance for further data collection. Shellfish farms may also be found in more rural areas wherein water may not be regularly tested. The government may as such work with them, and or the testing labs that work with them, to get frequent reports as to the safety of water levels.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Our biosensor can serve as preliminary testing, as such allowing farmers to be able to send their batch of shellfish to bigger markets with confidence that the product is safe for consumption. This serves to increase efficiency in the supply chain as in the case where the shellfish are safe to eat, further testing will not be in vain, and in the case where the shellfish are not safe to eat, swift action can be made to seal off the area, and better preparation can be made.

The estimated testing time is also more rapid than current testing methods which as such minimizes the time consumed at the initial stages of the supply chain. This coincides with target 8.4, as it contributes to resource efficiency in consumption and production, as less resources will be used than when the quality of the shellfish is known further up the supply chain. In addition to this, our biosensor also contributes to increasing employment in the economy, as personnel will be required to produce and manage our biosensors. This may contribute to target 8.1 which advocates for sustainable economic growth as both the increased efficiency in production and employment would contribute to the economy positively.

3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

The mouse poison bioassay has been utilized as standard of testing for many different experiments, including the detection of marine biotoxins in shellfish. Although it has been greatly beneficial to the world of science, contributing to the discovery of a magnitude of knowledge about biological life, this method may be seen as unsustainable as raising the animals will take a greater amount of resources as compared to producing bacteria for our biosensors.

There has additionally been a moral dilemma that revolves around the method as the mice used for testing are often subjected to immensely harmful and torturous chemicals. As such, we believe that by using our biosensor to replace this unethical method, particularly contributing to target 12.6 which involves encouraging companies, specifically those of whom are involved in the shellfish industry, to adopt sustainable practices and sustainability reporting

4. SDG 14: Life below Water

Our biosensor contributes to preserving biodiversity. As we will be able to test for the existence and prevalence of toxins in shellfish (whether or not it is safe for human consumption), we will also be able to identify whether there are safe levels of toxins, and the dinoflagellates which produce them, in the bodies of water which the shellfish came from. This is of concern considering that the toxins can negatively impact the marine life which feeds off of the shellfish and other filter feeders in the ecosystems as the toxins accumulated may also hurt their population.

This may create an imbalance in the ecosystem which may in turn affect the rest of the marine life. In cases where these toxins are found, measures can be taken in order to minimize the spread, and the correct conservation authorities can be informed of the situation. As such, our biosensor also contributes to the 14th SDG, specifically target 14.A, being to increase scientific knowledge, research, and technology for ocean health, since our biosensor helps with the collection of information regarding conditions of the marine ecosystems, as well as target 14.2 which is to protect and restore ecosystems, as our biosensor will be able to help protect the ecosystems.

References:

1. Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation. The Global Goals. (n.d.).

2. Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth. The Global Goals. (n.d.).

3. Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production. The Global Goals. (n.d.).

4. Goal 14: Life below water. The Global Goals. (n.d.).

PROJECT

• Description
• Design
• Engineering
• Proof of Concept
• Implementation
• Safety
• Contribution
• Notebook

WETLAB

• Experiments
• Results

DRYLAB

• Model

REACH

• Human Practice
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Education
• Sustainable

PARTS

• Basic Parts
• Composite Parts

TEAM

• Team
• Attributions