Ikuko Nakano

GFI Fellow - Class of 2021

Undergraduate student, environmental and civil engineering
UCLA

DESCRIPTION

2021-22 GFI student fellow

Plastic2Food is a project at UCLA diverting hard-to-recycle plastic waste through natural processes to safely support the growth of fresh food. Ikuko and her research team are studying the metabolic abilities of mealworms, fungi, and bacteria to break down plastics such as styrofoam and using the main byproducts: frass (insect excretia), CO2, and water, to promote the growth of organic produce. They will converge the elements of this project into a dual-purpose greenhouse facility which collects and composts unwanted plastic waste while producing nutrient-rich fertilizer for food growth. Utilizing the resources available as UCLA students, they aim to produce these fresh and healthy foods for local LA communities disproportionately suffering from food insecurity and environmental pollution. They currently collaborate with UCLA organizations to obtain styrofoam and distribute fertilizer, but they plan to expand to the greater LA area to inspire a necessary change in the way we view plastic waste and food distribution.