Team:Wageningen UR

iGEM Wageningen 2021

Feeding our ever-growing world population comes at a heavy cost

The livestock sector is a massive environmental burden to our planet

Next to emitting the potent greenhouse gas methane…

…it contributes to another problem: reactive nitrogen

specifically in the Netherlands, this escalated into a national nitrogen crisis

…it contributes to another problem: reactive nitrogen

specifically in the Netherlands, this escalated into a national nitrogen crisis

Worldwide, 40% of protected nature areas suffer from excess nitrogen, causing biodiversity loss

In the Netherlands, this is 70%
Reactive nitrogen promotes eutrophication

causing excessive algal blooms
Drastic political measures were taken,

resulting in protesting farmers

For a sustainable future, we need a solution

that reduces both emissions

Introducing

Reducing the ecological hoofprint of the livestock sector

How does Cattlelyst work?

Cattlelyst is an innovative solution that deals with methane and reactive nitrogen emissions of the cattle industry, which have contributed to complex environmental and political problems. This excessive amount of reactive nitrogen emitted into the environment mainly comes in the form of ammonia. We developed a biofilter containing genetically modified microorganisms to convert the harmful gases methane and ammonia from cattle stalls into carbon-neutral carbon dioxide (CO₂) and harmless dinitrogen (N₂). It combines and captures the ammonia-rich air originating from the manure storage, and the methane that the cows emit during digestion. The design of our engineered microorganisms is built on three different pillars: 1. Methane conversion, 2. Ammonia removal, and 3. Safety. This way, the Cattlelyst biofilter provides a responsible solution for both harmful gasses emitted by cattle, allowing farmers to feed the world in a more sustainable way.

          
          Ammonia
        
          Methane
        
          Safety

Integrated Human Practices

For Cattlelyst to serve both nature and citizens, we integrated the ideas, wishes and needs of all parties affected by the nitrogen crisis. We took our project to farmers, politicians, legislators, experts, and ethicists, and with their involvement we were able to shape our project. By evaluating our design with our stakeholders, we identified missing aspects to our solution, which we filled by refining our initial wetlab approach. Lastly, we established the societal role of Cattlelyst by uniting stakeholders in a consultation. To learn more about the outcomes of our human practices work, visit the Integrated Human Practices page.

Integrated Human Practices

For Cattlelyst to serve both nature and citizens, we integrated the ideas, wishes and needs of all parties affected by the nitrogen crisis. We took our project to farmers, politicians, legislators, experts, and ethicists, and with their involvement we were able to shape our project. By evaluating our design with our stakeholders, we identified missing aspects to our solution, which we filled by refining our initial wetlab approach. Lastly, we established the societal role of Cattlelyst by uniting stakeholders in a consultation. To learn more about the outcomes of our human practices work, visit the Integrated Human Practices page.

The iGEM PIPE

Our team wanted to give back to the iGEM community, so we developed a software tool. We called it the iGEM Pipeline for Improved Pathway Engineering (PIPE), which can help iGEM teams with designing their metabolic engineering projects. PIPE searches for genes and their functions in online databases, such as, the iGEM registry. Then it suggests engineering strategies including possible knock-outs and knock ins. One of the novel aspects of the iGEM PIPE is the ability of suggesting engineering strategies based on uncommon substrates (e.g. pollutants and xenobiotics) and allowing simulation of growth in genome scale metabolic models. Want to learn more about how this tool was built and what it can do? Visit the iGEM PIPE page!

The iGEM PIPE

Our team wanted to give back to the iGEM community, so we developed a software tool. We called it the iGEM Pipeline for Improved Pathway Engineering (PIPE), which can help iGEM teams with designing their metabolic engineering projects. PIPE searches for genes and their functions in online databases, such as, the iGEM registry. Then it suggests engineering strategies including possible knock-outs and knock ins. One of the novel aspects of the iGEM PIPE is the ability of suggesting engineering strategies based on uncommon substrates (e.g. pollutants and xenobiotics) and allowing simulation of growth in genome scale metabolic models. Want to learn more about how this tool was built and what it can do? Visit the iGEM PIPE page!

Education

Education is of vital importance to develop and implement synthetic biology solutions together with society. Through education we generate understanding and acceptance, thereby advancing technological solutions in an inclusive way and bridging the gap between science and society.
We achieved this by reaching out to people of all different ages. To inspire the next generation of synthetic biologists, we organized a Junior Science Lab for primary school children, visited high schools and gave several guest lectures at our own university. Moreover, we gave a presentation at the public library in Wageningen to discuss GMO safety with the general public to create more understanding. More details on our education activities can be found on the Education page.

Education

Education is of vital importance to develop and implement synthetic biology solutions together with society. Through education we generate understanding and acceptance, thereby advancing technological solutions in an inclusive way and bridging the gap between science and society.
We achieved this by reaching out to people of all different ages. To inspire the next generation of synthetic biologists, we organized a Junior Science Lab for primary school children, visited high schools and gave several guest lectures at our own university. Moreover, we gave a presentation at the public library in Wageningen to discuss GMO safety with the general public to create more understanding. More details on our education activities can be found on the Education page.

Dutch Meetup

When we started our iGEM journey, we still lived by the COVID-19 pandemic’s rules. Less physical interaction between teams was possible than in previous years. However, we still wanted to meet the other teams and have some fun. Therefore, we decided to bring all Dutch iGEM teams together by organizing the Dutch meetup! On this day, all Dutch teams gathered in an online environment where we presented our projects, listened to lectures from great speakers, and discussed human practices in a workshop. Learn more about this day on the Dutch Meetup page.

Dutch meetup

When we started our iGEM journey, we still lived by the COVID-19 pandemic’s rules. Less physical interaction between teams was possible than in previous years. However, we still wanted to meet the other teams and have some fun. Therefore, we decided to bring all Dutch iGEM teams together by organizing the Dutch meetup! On this day, all Dutch teams gathered in an online environment where we presented our projects, listened to lectures from great speakers, and discussed human practices in a workshop. Learn more about this day on the Dutch Meetup page.

Lab Olympics

Inspired by the Olympic games that were held this summer, our team decided to organize a sporty competition in which all the iGEM teams could participate. To stay fit and upgrade our skills, we introduced the iGEM Lab Olympics. We made five challenges ranging from shooting pipet tips to filling up agarose gels as fast as possible. We asked every team that wanted to participate to compete with us and film their performances. Curious about the challenges and the team’s Olympic lab skills? Visit the Lab Olympics page!

Lab Olympics

Inspired by the Olympic games that were held this summer, our team decided to organize a sporty competition in which all the iGEM teams could participate. To stay fit and upgrade our skills, we introduced the iGEM Lab Olympics. We made five challenges ranging from shooting pipet tips to filling up agarose gels as fast as possible. We asked every team that wanted to participate to compete with us and film their performances. Curious about the challenges and the team’s Olympic lab skills? Visit the Lab Olympics page!

Nominations

Best Environment Project

Best Presentation

Best Sustainable Development Impact

See the results

Nominations

Best Environment Project

Best Presentation

Best Sustainable Development Impact

See the results

SECTIONS

Team:Wageningen UR

Feeding our ever-growing world population comes at a heavy cost

Feeding our ever-growing world population comes at a heavy cost

The livestock sector is a massive environmental burden to our planet

The livestock sector is a massive environmental burden to our planet

Next to emitting the potent greenhouse gas methane…

Next to emitting the potent greenhouse gas methane…

…it contributes to another problem: reactive nitrogen

specifically in the Netherlands, this escalated into a national nitrogen crisis

…it contributes to another problem: reactive nitrogen

specifically in the Netherlands, this escalated into a national nitrogen crisis

Worldwide, 40% of protected nature areas suffer from excess nitrogen, causing biodiversity loss

In the Netherlands, this is 70%

Reactive nitrogen promotes eutrophication

causing excessive algal blooms

Drastic political measures were taken,

resulting in protesting farmers

For a sustainable future, we need a solution

that reduces both emissions

Introducing

Reducing the ecological hoofprint of the livestock sector

How does Cattlelyst work?

Ammonia

Methane

Safety

Integrated Human Practices

Integrated Human Practices

The iGEM PIPE

The iGEM PIPE

Education

Education

Dutch Meetup

Dutch meetup

Lab Olympics

Lab Olympics

Nominations

Best Environment Project

Best Presentation

Best Sustainable Development Impact

Nominations

Best Environment Project

Best Presentation

Best Sustainable Development Impact

SECTIONS