SynerGrown
Team information
Category:
Can Jiang
Master
Wageningen University
Jinsoo Kim
Master
Wageningen university
Melania Zanforlin
Master
Wageningen University and Research
Joaquin Fogel
Master
Wageningen
Andres Montaña
Master
Wageningen University
George Truijens
Master
Wageningen University & Research
Sahana Yaragatti
Master
Sahana Veeranna Yaragatti
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About the team
SynerGrown is a group of seven students with diverse backgrounds in Food Safety, Biosystems Engineering, and Food Technology. Our multidisciplinary team combines expertise in modeling, AI, computer vision, and circular systems to create innovative, resource-efficient solutions. Driven by a shared passion for sustainable food production, we tackle global challenges to build resilient, circular, and equitable food systems.
Our vision
We are driven to create resilient, circular, and resource-efficient food systems that improve local protein production in resource- and protein-scarce environments. These areas lack access to fresh, nutritious, and affordable food, exacerbating health disparities and dependence on unsustainable supply chains. As urban populations grow and climate change disrupts traditional agriculture, food insecurity has become an urgent global challenge. Inspired by space farming research—where achieving zero-waste, circular systems is key to growing food in extreme conditions—we aim to integrate novel food production technologies to achieve local, closed-loop solutions that minimize resource use and waste. Our goal is to empower communities, especially in the most challenging settings like urban deserts and disaster-stricken regions, to enhance food security and work toward sustainability, where feasible.
Our solution
Our solution is a plug-and-play bioreactor kit designed to integrate with vertical farms, enabling localized and scalable production of cultivated meat in urban areas. Inspired by space farming research—where achieving zero-waste, circular systems is critical for growing food in extreme environments—our system combines plant and cellular agriculture into a closed-loop, sustainable ecosystem. The system features a multiple-bioreactors model for cell growth and differentiation. Vertical farm waste can be transformed into inputs for cultivated meat production, while plant biomass provides structure for the cultivated meat. Additionally, Nostoc, a resilient cyanobacterium with extremely low water requirements, can be cultivated alongside plants in the vertical farm. Nostoc captures CO₂, produces oxygen, and generates valuable nutrients, enhancing cell culture efficiency and sustainability. By integrating vertical farming with cultivated meat production, our solution reduces dependency on synthetic inputs, minimizes waste, and ensures efficient resource utilization. The system’s modular, adaptable design makes it versatile for diverse settings. This innovation decentralizes protein production, offering more diverse diets and alternative protein sources while lowering the ecological footprint. Our approach reimagines protein production to build resilient, circular food systems capable of thriving in even the most challenging environments.