"Your bell can only be heard in unison; when it rings alone, it merely gets
lost in the din of older bells." ——Maxim Gorky
The purpose of our Human practices is to strive for both collective harmony and shared progress, advancing together through mutual understanding and support. We firmly believe that only through continuous deep interaction and integration with individuals, communities, and the broader external environment can we gather a powerful force, so that everyone's efforts and contributions are no longer lonely, and a louder and clearer voice can be heard, revealing the true essence of Human practices.
Following the principle of interaction, we start our Integrated Human Practices from idea, investigation, promotion, implementation, and optimization, and build the SWEET framework with project inspiration. We aspire, through such interactions, to transcend the bounds of individual capabilities and collaborate with society to address the challenges of our time, alleviating the world's concerns and enhancing the well-being of human beings.
Sparking Idea
During a school exam, one of our members was admitted to the hospital due to irregular routine and diet.
At the hospital, we were surprised to see an educational display that vividly showcased the sugar content in various beverages. In front of each bottle stood an indication of the astonishing amount of sugar it contained, and we exclaimed, "Goodness, we've been unknowingly consuming so much sugar!"
At that moment, we found two beverages, CHI FOERET Sparkling Water and SUNTORY Oolong Tea. It was remarkable to note that their bottles boasted zero sugar content, standing in stark contrast to the other options. However, despite their sugar-free label, we were well-aware of their delightfully sweet taste, which left us puzzled.
Our curiosity piqued, we sought clarification from the attending doctor, who emphasized that excessive sugar intake could lead to a multitude of health issues, including dental cavities, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and more. It was then revealed that CHI FOERET Sparkling Water and SUNTORY Oolong Tea contained sweeteners instead of sugar. With a nod of understanding, he added, " Sweeteners might indeed serve as a viable alternative for those who struggle with sugar addiction and its associated health complications, offering a way to enjoy sweetness without the detrimental effects of sugar."
Focusing on the sugar industry, we found that the concept of sugar reduction has already sprouted as early as 2019. The Healthy China Initiative encourages urban high-sugar consumers to reduce sucrose-laden drinks and sweets, opting for natural sweeteners and alternatives. Additionally, the National Nutrition Plan and the White Paper on Sugar Reduction in Beverages and Foods for Healthy China (2021) also place great expectations on the development of sweeteners. According to the China Sugar Association, the traditional sugar industry is gradually evolving towards regionalization, centralization, and nationalization; whereas the sweetener industry is driven by strong policies, with continually increasing niche demands and continuous iteration of types and processes. As such, sweeteners have become a promising trend, an integral part of people's healthy lifestyle philosophy.
| Policy | Release Date | Issuing Authority | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Nutrition Plan (2017-2030) | July 2017 | State Council | Priority should be given to research on the amount of oil, salt and sugar in processed foods and its relevance to health. Control measures for oil, salt and sugar in processed foods should be introduced in due course. Extensively carries out special campaigns focused on the "Three Reductions and Three Health Improvements" (reducing salt, oil, and sugar; promoting healthy mouths, healthy weights, and healthy bones). |
| Healthy Mouth Action Plan (2019-2025) | February 2019 | National Health Commission | Launches special sugar reduction actions. Encourages enterprises to make "low-sugar" or "sugar-free" claims and improves consumers' ability to correctly interpret added sugar on food nutrition labels. |
| Healthy China Initiative (2019-2030) | July 2019 | State Council | Advocates food producers and traders to use natural sweeteners and sweeteners permitted by food safety standards to replace sucrose, scientifically reducing sucrose content in processed foods. Encourages high-sugar intake groups in urban areas to reduce consumption of sucrose-containing beverages and sweets, opting for beverages and foods produced with natural sweeteners and sweeteners as substitutes for sucrose. |
| Guidelines on Sugar Intake for Adults and Children | July 2021 | World Health Organization (WHO) | To reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases such as overweight, obesity, and dental caries by decreasing sugar intake among adults and children. By controlling sugar consumption, individuals are encouraged to opt for healthier food and beverage choices, fostering balanced diets and optimal nutrient intake. |
| White Paper on Sugar Reduction Action in Beverages and Foods for Healthy China (2021) | September 2021 | First China Beverage Healthy Consumption Forum | Over the past 20 years, the prevalence of diabetes among young people in China has quadrupled. Through sugar reduction and control actions, the risk of these chronic diseases can be reduced, improving the overall health of the public. |
The "White Paper on the Action Plan for Sugar Reduction in Beverages and Foods for Healthy China (2021)" predicts that the market size of sugar-free beverages in China will reach 27.66 billion yuan by 2027, with high growth rate and large potential. The promotion of the concept of sugar reduction and control will facilitate the transformation and upgrading of the beverage and food industry, driving it towards a healthier and more sustainable development.
Annotation: Figure A illustrates a significant reduction in the production of the sugar industry in China over the past 20 years, while the overall consumption of sugar has shown an upward trend. This indicates that while policies and industries are working towards reducing sugar production, consumer demand for sugar continues to grow. Figure B demonstrates that the production of artificial sweeteners in China is increasing on an annual basis, with a notable acceleration in recent years.
Characteristics and Current Status of Selected Sweeteners
| Category | Name | Sweetness Multiplier | Price (Dollar/kg) | Safety | Flavor Characteristics | Development Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial Sweeteners (High-Intensity) | Saccharin | 500 | 5.7 | Low | Strong metallic, bitter aftertaste | Production and application controlled by the government |
| Aspartame | 200 | 11.4 | Risks Involved | Pure sweet taste, similar to sucrose | Usage limited by stability and safety concerns, expected gradual exit from the market | |
| Sucralose | 650 | 28.5 | Relatively High | Pure sweet taste | Good market development, 2 leading domestic enterprises in China | |
| Natural Sweeteners (High-Intensity) | Mogroside | 200-300 | 28.5 | High | Distinct Luo Han Guo (Monk Fruit) flavor | Produced by many enterprises, but each in small quantities |
| Steviol Glycosides (Stevia) | 200-300 | 31.35 | High | Slight bitter aftertaste | Rapid development, with enterprises entering the market | |
| Thaumatin | 1600-2000 | 213.75 | High | Similar to sucrose, enhances flavors | Small domestic production in China, no companies producing at scale | |
| Functional Polyols (Low-Intensity) | Erythritol | 0.6-0.7 | 3.3 | Risks Involved | Pure sweet taste with a cooling sensation | Good market development, multiple leading domestic enterprises in China |
We have further investigated various types of sweeteners and found that some of them have safety controversies, as well as problems with taste, price, preparation, and other aspects. Therefore, we plan to develop a new type of sweetener.
We conducted street and online surveys to understand what characteristics of sweeteners the public really care about. Learning from the result, we hoped to make a sweetener that is tasty, safe, low-cost and nutritious. In the end, we chose Thaumatin from various sweeteners.
Therefore, we have preliminarily decided to use cell factories for the production of Thaumatin, aiming to achieve both high efficiency and safety. Thereby offering consumers a novel, healthy, and delicious sweetener option that allows them to enjoy without any burden.
Wide Investigation
To find a foothold for the project, make it more grounded and connected with society, we aspired to understand stakeholders' perspectives and refine our project based on their expectations or uncertainties. As Su Shi's poem goes, "From the side, the mountain appears as a peak; from the end, it's a ridge. The view varies with distance and height." To fully grasp the details of the project, we have designed a value chain and divided the chain into six stages from planning to implementation. For each stage, we conducted in-depth interviews to ensure that comprehensive information is collected and feed back into our project.
Scientific Exploration
Key concern: Is the project design reasonable?
Core benefit: Enhances project progression by extending from experimentation to modeling and hardware development.
Effect Evaluation
Key concern: Is the project helpful to society?
Core benefit: Clarifies the project's scope and depth, fostering recognition and reputation.
Cultivation & Promotion
Key concern: Does it offer higher efficiency and more reliable guarantees?
Core benefit: Refines the integration details with the industrial chain.
Quality Supervision
Key concern: Do experiments and long-term development comply with legal and procedural requirements?
Core benefit: Addresses safety concerns and inspires us to develop a unique regulatory system tailored to the program.
Market Assessment
Key concern: Are the product and concept appealing and innovative?
Core benefit: Enables understanding of the artificial sweetener market, facilitating company and product positioning.
Public Approval
Key concern: Is it safe and effective?
Core benefit: Insights into consumer psychology, guiding the identification of target customers.
Stage 1. Scientific Exploration
Xbiome company
To enhance our understanding of using cell factories, we visited Xbiome, a company that integrates microbial technology with bioinformatics to design and modify gut microbiota. They transplant modified microbiota into the intestine to treat conditions such as obesity and depression. While discussing drug production with bacterial communities, the representative emphasized, “The primary consideration for an efficient cell factory is selecting the right chassis. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, as well as microbial, plant, and animal cells, each have distinct advantages as chassis. The choice depends on the product's requirements." Through further discussions, we gained insights into designing effective cell factories and achieving high production efficiency. We will focus on organizing the following table.
How to design a good cell factory:
| Part | Solution |
|---|---|
| Suitable chassis | The chassis is divided into prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and can also be divided into microbial, plant, and animal cells. Common cells used as cell factories include Escherichia coli, yeast, and model plant cells. |
| Select the appropriate original | This includes the selection of promoters, ribosome binding sites, terminators, regulatory sequences, and genes encoding proteins to ensure their use in the chassis. |
| Exquisite path design | Design gene circuits according to the purpose, including input signals, sensor systems, signal transduction pathways, and output responses such as gene expression. After assembling gene switches and logic gates into metabolic pathways, the results can be simulated and predicted through modeling. |
| Selection of genetic tools | The gene circuit is delivered into host cells using chemical methods such as liposomes, physical methods such as electroporation, or biological methods such as viral vectors. The CRISPR-Cas9 system can also be used to integrate the gene circuit into a specific site of the host genome to ensure stable expression of the gene circuit. |
| Optimal cultivation conditions | Strict control of temperature, humidity, light, pH, nutrient solution composition, etc. |
How to achieve efficient production:
| Part | Solution |
| Optimizing genetic elements | / |
| Correct metabolic effects | The basic energy intake and growth metabolism of the chassis cells should not be blocked to ensure the growth of the cells and the continuous production of the product. |
| Optimize the cultivation conditions and equipment level | / |
| Strengthen quality control and safety management | / |
Our product is Thaumatin, a protein produced by eukaryotic cells. Prokaryotic cells such as Escherichia coli have fast production speed and clear genetic background, but they do not have endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus to process proteins and cannot fold into complete Thaumatin structures. If prokaryotic cells are used as cell factories, the semi-finished polypeptide chain products need to be processed after purification, which is too complicated. Nevertheless, we have tried in the prokaryotic system to explore the simplification of production. When considering yeast production, the commonly used Pichia pastoris requires methanol as a raw material for processing, but our product is ultimately intended to be made into food, and methanol may be harmful to human health, so it cannot be used. Finally, we chose to use plant cells as the chassis to ensure the correct expression and complete folding of Thaumatin. Among many plants, tomato fruit can be eaten directly and processed into sweeteners with soma sweet. At the same time, its fruit can be used as a storage organ to store our products in theory. Therefore, we choose tomato as our chassis. In addition, as a model organism, tomato has a clear genetic background, high yield, strong growth adaptability, and rich nutritional value. It is deeply loved by people and is cultivated worldwide.
Botany experts and lectures
Professor Huang Tengbo
In order to make tomatoes better exclusive production factories for Thaumatin and reduce the content of other sugar substances, we want to inhibit the sugar transport switch in the fruit cells of tomatoes during the ripening period, reducing the input of sugar.
Through discussions with professors and research groups, we confirmed that sugar accumulation is a continuous process during tomato growth, and that only the sugar transport switch during the tissue maturation stage cannot effectively reduce the sugar content in fruit cells. At the same time, inhibiting the sugar transport switch during all stages of life activity may affect the normal metabolism and growth of tomato cells. Prof. Huang suggested that we could ignore the impact of sugar on the project, as tomatoes themselves have a low sugar content.
This also prompts us to ponder whether the expression of Thaumatin throughout the entire life cycle of tomatoes would affect their metabolism and normal growth. Therefore, we identified the E8 promoter, which specifically expresses during tomato fruit ripening, in order to minimize its impact on tomatoes. Meanwhile, by analyzing previous experiments, we learned that the expression efficiency of the E8 promoter during the ripening stage is comparable to that of the commonly used non-specific promoter 35S. As a result, we can ensure yield while reducing metabolic accumulation and unknown risks.
Lecture
To enhance protein accumulation on the existing foundation, we intend to target protein storage in the tomato cell compartment and we focus on chloroplasts. At the "Shenzhen University Liyuan Forum - Green Agriculture and Sustainable Development", we listened to reports from experts and scholars on the regulatory mechanism of chloroplast protein degradation, chloroplast protein transport, and quality control.
They pointed out that there are many black boxes to be filled in the current research on chloroplasts, and most of the research is still in the stage of exploration and theoretical speculation. So we decided to give up storing proteins in chloroplasts.
Professor Mo Beixin
We continue to search for cell compartments that can store proteins, and intend to store sweet proteins in vacuoles. We have consulted many documents and further discussed with Professor Mo Beixin, a botanist, about the feasibility of this idea.
Regarding the question of whether Thaumatin can be better stored in tomato vacuoles, Professor Mo stated that localizing Thaumatin to the vacuole transforms the secretory protein into an intracellular protein, reducing the likelihood of its exposure. Additionally, the Thaumatin's good acid resistance ensures its activity within the vacuole.
Considering the functional roles of plant organs, tomato fruits and seeds are both storage organs that possess a certain capacity for storing proteins and other substances. These properties suggest that the targeted storage of Thaumatin in vacuoles can theoretically increase its accumulation.
In addition, there are various hydrolytic enzymes in vacuoles, which cut proteins by recognizing specific structures of proteins. Therefore, Professor Mo suggested that we conduct further studies to interpret the types of enzymes present in the vacuoles and the structure of the Thaumatin.
Professor Liu Yun
We had a brief discussion with Professor Liu Yun, an expert of plant molecular biology, who pointed out that the hygromycin resistance gene we used may produce hygromycin proteins that are harmful to humans. This reminds us to understand the safety issues of various components in more detail and distinguish the differences between laboratory research and later trials in the use of resistance genes.
Others
Model
We intend to predict the binding of Thaumatin with sweet taste receptors through modeling. We explored the structure of the whole environment from different angles and used several open-source models, including AlphaFold, to make predictions. However, we encountered some issues in processing multi-source data.
After consulting with Dr. Mao Shiqing, an expert in bioinformatics, we decided to proceed with the model that most closely aligns with the predicted results in the literature for further data analysis. Dr. Mao also provided us with access to a more advanced and faster-running server, facilitating the operation of our models.
Furthermore, we intend to conduct directed evolution of Thaumatin to eliminate its bitter peptides and reduce the allergenicity after mutation. To this end, we have consulted with Dr. Zhao Liqing, an expert with profound research in this field, and her students.
Her students stated, "Currently, the technical route for protein directed evolution is relatively mature, and can be achieved through gene site prediction, gene mutation, and result verification." Dr. Zhao added, "Constructing a random library and conducting high-throughput screening is a new approach leveraging big data and AI. Based on a broader data foundation, this is the development trend of directed evolution." Meanwhile, methods such as mutant screening, structural modification, and bioinformatics analysis can be employed to reduce allergenicity.
Hardware
In terms of hardware, we anticipate achieving a more refined detection of the sweetness level of sweet proteins. Our hardware team has proposed designing a bioelectronic detection instrument to examine sweet proteins and common sugars.
After consulting with Dr. Chai Yujuan, an expert in biochemical AI, we refined our approach and are now moving forward with the development of SweetGlow, a detection device that utilizes lanthanide metal ester fluorescence to identify common sugars. Subsequently, the hardware team came up with an even more intuitive method for concentration detection: a lateral flow immunoassay strip, which will be used to measure the concentration of Thaumatin in our experimental tomato plants. Dr. Chai also recommended using labeled antibodies as an alternative solution if specific Thaumatin antibodies are not available.
Electronic tongue
In order to better measure sweetness, we contacted the electronic tongue manufacturer to understand the principle and database establishment method, and used the control group to establish a tomato Thaumatin-specific database.
Through discussions with experts, our project evolved from "single production" to a more advanced system involving "tomato fruit-specific production during the ripening stage" and a "combined production and storage system". To validate our design, we expanded into modeling and hardware sections to predict the binding of Thaumatin to sweet taste receptors and to test Thaumatin's sweetness levels. The Scientific Exploration Stage enriched and expanded the project's scope, making it more innovative and giving us greater confidence to present it to others.
Stage 2. Effect Evaluation
Diabetes Expert
"Diabetics should opt for beverages and foods that use sweeteners as an alternative to sugar," stated Professor Zhong Chenjun in the "Balanced Diet, Scientific Three Reductions" series of science popularization videos. To delve deeper into the significance of sweeteners for diabetics, we have sought the expertise of Associate Professor Mao Zhuo, a renowned diabetes specialist.
Through our conversation with Professor Mao, we gained insight into the well-established treatment systems for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Beyond medical interventions, daily dietary habits and physical activity are equally crucial, particularly for Type 2 diabetes, which is often associated with an unhealthy lifestyle. By modifying these lifestyle factors, individuals can effectively slow down the progression of the disease. Our sweetener aims to enhance the dietary experience during the sugar-free period for patients, without causing significant fluctuations in blood sugar levels, thereby promoting a healthier lifestyle.
Cardiovascular disease
Excessive sugar consumption can lead to various diseases. We contacted Dr. Lin Zhi, chief physician of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, to inquire about the relationship between sugar and cardiovascular diseases, as well as the potential role of artificial sweeteners in treating it.
Dr. Lin stated that "consuming too much sugar undoubtedly imposes a significant burden on the cardiovascular system." Unhealthy diets and excessive sugar intake are among the major contributors to cardiovascular diseases, along with genetic factors, exercise habits, and mental stress.
He then introduced an expert in the Nutrition Department to us. The expert explained, "The impact of consuming too much sugar depends on the type of sugar. Processed sugars or refined carbohydrates pose a risk for cardiovascular diseases, whereas complex carbohydrates carry a lower risk." She also mentioned that, as long as a balanced diet and exercise routine are maintained, consuming slightly more sugar is not a significant issue. Regarding the relationship between artificial sweeteners and cardiovascular diseases, the nutrition expert pointed out that there is a lack of extensive epidemiological studies to conclusively determine whether artificial sweeteners can reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. However, she cautioned that some studies have suggested that artificial sweeteners may increase the intake of other foods, such as feeling more inclined to eat after consuming diet soda.
We shared our perspective, arguing that sweeteners inherently enhance the flavor of food, making it more palatable. Additionally, we believe that consuming regular soda can also lead to increased food intake, as people often seek the refreshing, sweet sensation rather than the rich food flavors. Both diet soda and regular soda provide sweetness, but diet soda, being sugar-free, reduces overall calorie intake. They found our arguments reasonable and suggested that this might be related to the purpose of consuming beverages. In summary, the emergence of artificial sweeteners should not create more problems in society but rather address the existing ones.
Food experts
Given that our products involve genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and novel proteins, we sought the advice of expert Zhao Liqing again to ensure the safety of GMO foods.
Genetically modified foods do not alter human genes, but for certain minority groups, they may cause allergic reactions and drug resistance issues. The allergen testing of genetically modified foods before they are marketed can ensure that most people are not allergic.
At the same time, the safety of genetically modified foods should be judged based on scientific evidence and assessments by authoritative institutions, rather than on unsubstantiated concerns or misunderstandings. Therefore, we decided to contact the Food Safety Administration and other authoritative institutions to understand the process and standards for evaluating the safety of genetically modified foods, and strictly follow them. In addition, we also plan to provide the public with a correct understanding of genetically modified foods through various forms of science education, such as entering classrooms, roadshows, and media.
Sugar substitutes primarily address the health risks associated with excessive sugar consumption. Therefore, in this stage, we first ensured the safety of Thaumatin itself, confirming that it would not impose additional burdens on society. Secondly, we learned that sugar substitutes can reduce the dependence of individuals with diabetes and obesity on sugar, integrating into the daily diet of the general public. The Effect Evaluation Stage heightened our anticipation, as Thaumatin presents a fresh solution to the conflict between sugar intake and the desire for sweetness. It also imbued our project with a deeper purpose, promoting a message of health and well-being.
Stage 3. Cultivation & Promotion
"When choosing which crops to plant, farmers and plantations focus on whether the entire harvest can be sold and whether they can fetch a high price", Researcher Li Yonghong told us in a casual conversation. In addition, Researcher Li said that we need to achieve a high and stable Thaumatin expression in the laboratory stage to facilitate large-scale promotion and commercialization.
"We can grow anything! But it would be even better if all the crops we grow could be sold out and fetched a good price!" The farmer from Hunan told us during our visit to the farm.
Visiting plantations
In order to gain a more specific understanding of the planting patterns, conditions, and variety selection requirements of plantations, we visited several plantations, including the Shanwei Plantation and the Hepingshan Plantation.
When selecting varieties, the Shanwei Plantation prioritizes those with local characteristics, good quality, and the potential for high selling prices. For instance, among the numerous varieties of lychees, they vigorously cultivate and sell the locally unique Fengshan Red Lantern variety. However, they grapple with the issue of preservation after harvest and during transportation, as cold chain transportation significantly increases costs, and there are no outstanding preservatives available on the market. Therefore, until effective solutions emerge, there are high demands for the varieties' inherent antioxidant properties and mechanical strength. In the the Hepingshan Plantation planting tomatos, the manager informed us that they had recently purchased and planted a batch of seeds, but the results were not satisfactory. "These varieties are prone to severe bacterial wilt, so we plan to repurchase a new batch of seeds." Hence, factors such as uniqueness, quality, and profitability all influence the choice of varieties for the plantations.
Our tomato varieties are unique, specifically cultivated as "cell factories" for the purpose of extracting Thaumatin. As such, unlike traditional plantations that grow and sell their own produce while worrying about sales volume and profits, we plan to collaborate with plantations to designate specific areas for growing our Thaumatin-producing tomatoes. We offer premium prices for tomatoes of superior quality, surpassing those of ordinary tomatoes. Additionally, in the face of sudden disasters like heavy rainstorms and typhoons, we provide compensation for damaged product.
During the Cultivation and Promotion Stage, our interactions with agricultural advisors, individual farmers, and large plantations allowed us to gain a clearer understanding of their focus on profitability and security. In response to this, we designed a specialized plan to collaborate with farmers in the production of Thaumatin tomatoes. This approach not only respects the hard work of the farmers but also enhances our integration with other segments of the industry chain, facilitating the smooth progression of our project to the next phase.
Stage 4. Quality Supervision
We were fortunate to get in touch with Li Yonghong, the chief researcher of Shenzhen Agricultural Science and Technology Promotion Center, and visited the center. Researcher Li Yonghong showed us the office environment and experimental work of the center, including the testing of transgenic crop samples. We also learned that the Agricultural Promotion Center also shoulders the task of "popularizing biotechnology and biological knowledge" for the masses, so that the masses can correctly understand the biological revolution and promote the modernization of agricultural production.
Safety design: We have some ideas and doubts about the safety design of the project, and we have received answers from Researcher. Li.
a. Residue of Agrobacterium: We are concerned about the possibility of Agrobacterium remaining on plants and spreading through soil or other media. However, after transferring the plasmid into the plant, the Agrobacterium will be cleaved and die by its own protein, so there is no need to design a suicide switch for the Agrobacterium.
b. Hygromycin resistance gene problem: Hygromycin protein is harmful to human health, and we are concerned that the resistance gene will endanger human health. Researcher Li told us that we need to add resistance genes for screening at the laboratory level, and remove them during the field test stage. Therefore, the product will not contain hygromycin resistance genes. In addition, it is also possible to select a resistance gene that is harmless to the human body.
c. Environmental risk: "Genetically modified crops may cause gene drift and change the genes of closely related crops. Can we prevent the spread of pollen by biological means, such as adding environmental restriction switches to pollen?" Researcher Li replied that this method would consume more resources, and currently, physical isolation and stabilizing species genes are commonly used to reduce the threat to the environment.
GM safety: After obtaining the evaluation of GM food from food expert Mr. Zhao, we would like to know the official organization's view on GM food. Researcher Li pointed out that after obtaining the safety certificate approved and issued by the Food Safety Administration, genetically modified foods are actually no different from normal foods and can be digested normally by the human body. At the same time, we also found Professor Chen Junshi's positive view on genetically modified foods, "For genetically modified crops, the number of genetic changes is far lower than that of traditional hybrid breeding methods, and the selection and determination of gene loci are also more precise."
Policy and current situation: Researcher Li sent us a copy of the Collection of Laws and Regulations on the Safety Management of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms, and we decided to read it in depth and combine it with other materials to form a set of genetically modified crop safety regulatory processes that are more suitable for iGEM and fit the Food & Nutrition village.
The Longhua Transgenic Base of Shenzhen University
After studying the Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms Safety Management, we learned that agricultural genetically modified organisms undergo three stages of laboratory research, including intermediate experiments, environmental release, and productive trials. Therefore, we hope to see the planting and growth environment and safety protection measures of transgenic crops in the post-laboratory period through field visits.
Through Prof. Mo's introduction, we learned that our school has a transgenic experimental field base and has established an agricultural transgenic biosafety team to supervise the management of agricultural transgenic biosafety. Some plants in the base have been approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and have entered the intermediate experimental stage. This provides a good venue, supporting facilities, and management experience for further verification of our project.
Through Prof. Mo's introduction, we learned that our school has a transgenic experimental field base and has established an agricultural transgenic biosafety team to supervise the management of agricultural transgenic biosafety. Some plants in the base have been approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and have entered the intermediate experimental stage. This provides a good venue, supporting facilities, and management experience for further verification of our project.
In order to better measure sweetness, we contacted the electronic tongue manufacturer to understand the principle and database establishment method, and used the control group to establish a tomato Thaumatin-specific database.
In order to avoid the impact of the unintended spread of genetically modified crops on the natural environment, the base has taken a series of special measures, such as planting distance, bird-proof nets, and monitoring systems. These strict management measures are aimed at protecting the ecological environment and ensuring the reliability of scientific research.
There are many new types of food that have not yet been listed on the market in the base, such as spirulina eggs, high oleic peanuts, small watermelons, ice cream melons, and so on. These are new types of food produced using biotechnology, which encourage people to move towards a more nutritious and healthy lifestyle.
Shenzhen Market Supervision and Administration Bureau
We consulted the head of the Food Department of the Shenzhen Administration For Market Regulation by telephone to understand the relevant regulations on market food access. Firstly, the product needs to be approved by the Health Commission for new resource foods. Secondly, the company needs to obtain a food production license. After that, the company can carry out mass production and market launch of food in Shenzhen.
Our project involves two aspects: genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and novel sugar substitutes, both of which require special attention to safety monitoring and management. During this Quality Supervision Stage, we learned that relevant authorities attach great importance to the legality and compliance of the processes involved, and we have witnessed firsthand the safety precautions implemented in the experimental fields. To address the paramount concerns of stakeholders, we developed two tailored manuals focusing on long-term development standards and safety assessments to guide and regulate our project. This phase has resolved our lingering safety concerns and inspired us to establish a unique regulatory system tailored to our project, ensuring its smooth progress.
Stage 5. Market Assessment
Visit beverage stores
In the past two years, the trend of zero sugar and zero calorie has gradually spread to Chinese milk tea and coffee. We visited several well-known chain take-out beverage stores in China, including HEYTEA, NAIXUE, luckin coffee, NOWWA, and ChaPanda, and tasted sugar-free and non-sugar-free products of fruit tea, milk tea, and coffee series. Through conversations with the store staff, we learned about the usage of sweeteners and consumers' willingness to purchase.
We found that most of the sugar substitutes used in beverage shops are mixed with multiple types of sweeteners, such as erythritol, stevia glycosides, sucralose, sodium cyclamate, and acesulfame potassium, to mask unpleasant aftertastes and enhance overall flavor and texture. Thaumatin is known as a type of sweetener with high sweetness and flavor close to sucrose, which makes us more determined to use Thaumatin.
At the same time, we found that consumers' consumption behavior of sweeteners products is largely related to price. For products that require additional payment for sweeteners products, consumers have a lower willingness to purchase them; For products that do not require additional payment, consumers' willingness to purchase has increased significantly. Therefore, we need to control the production cost as much as possible and make the products benefit the people.
In addition, as a new type of sweetener, the market for Thaumatin has not yet been opened up in China, and there are no related products on the market. This shows that our research and development has a certain forward-looking perspective, and at the same time requires us to find our foundation in the vacancy.
Visit the manufacturer of CHI FOERET
CHI FOERET is the fastest growing sugar-free beverage company in China in recent years, with strong business acumen and innovative practical capabilities. We visited the Zhaoqing factory of CHI FOERET to understand the development mode of the enterprise. The narrator felt like old friends with us and shared many vivid stories with us.
Selection of sweeteners: When choosing sweeteners, they were concerned about the risks of aspartame to human health, so they paid special attention to the safety of sugar substitutes and finally chose erythritol. After the country restricted the use of erythritol, they also actively responded and reduced the use of erythritol in products. This urges us to more comprehensively evaluate the safety of sweet proteins and vividly and reliably tell customers about it.
Safety Assurance: In order to consider the safety of beverages and be responsible for the products, CHI FOERET has established a food safety laboratory. The laboratory is responsible for testing sweeteners and conducting random inspections of beverages at various stages. It has a veto power over products and is fully responsible for the hygiene and safety of the products, truly achieving "implementation to individuals" and "traceability of sources". It inspired us to form a safety guidebook based on our laboratory conditions, production process, and sweet protein characteristics.
Food Exhibition
The Sial International Food and Beverage Exhibition is a large-scale exchange event jointly organized by China and France, where food companies from all over the world gather to explore the future of the food industry. We checked the ingredient lists of various foods at the exhibition and found many examples of sweeteners.
When asked about the concept or reason for using sweeteners, they mentioned that reducing sugar has become a major trend in China, and the combination of sugar reduction with other health concepts is a hot spot that has not been fully explored in the Chinese market. Sweeteners are just right for this hot spot. Meanwhile, we didn't find any food booth relying on synthetic biology in the venue. We analyzed that most synthetic biology food products are still in the research and development stage, and have not yet entered the market stage, or are mostly located in the upstream of the industrial chain, only responsible for providing raw materials. We look forward to seeing more teams using synthetic biology technology to modify food ingredients, enhance nutritional value or create new tastes, and jointly promote revolutionary changes in the food industry. We also hope to achieve common development through industry-academia-research cooperation and enterprise alliances.
Food Synthetic Biology Companies
During our visit to the Shenzhen Synthetic Biology Industrial Park, we were pleasantly surprised to discover a related food company, Biosysen Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Ms.Liu, the company's director, shared that they use yeast as cellular factories to produce low-purine beer, aiming to offer a better product option for gout patients. She explained that cellular factories are highly efficient, capable of reducing purine content through genetic modification while maintaining high production efficiency. Additionally, this method is more environmentally friendly, sustainable, and better suited to market demands.We mentioned that our own work also focuses on synthetic biology foods and asked about the company's founding history. They spoke highly of our project and emphasized that the Synthetic Biology Industrial Park is an ideal platform for policy support and enterprise incubation. They warmly encouraged young, innovative companies like ours to explore and grow within the park.
During the Market Assessment Stage, we visited various companies related to our project, including stores that sell sugar substitute products, processing plants for sugar substitutes, zero-sugar concept stores at food exhibitions, and synthetic biology industrial parks. Companies related to sugar substitutes place great emphasis on the marketing appeal of their products and concepts, heavily promoting slogans like "zero sugar, zero calories" as health claims. At the same time, we found that the development of Thaumatin in the Chinese market is still in its nascent stage. This gives us even more hope to establish our own healthy slogan, secure our position in this emerging field, and grow our project.
Stage 6. Public Approval
Ordinary consumer
We have launched a survey questionnaire on sweeteners targeted at general consumers, effectively collecting 112 valid responses. In terms of awareness, 88.39% of respondents have heard of sweeteners, while 70% understand their functions, particularly demonstrating a high level of familiarity with aspartame, erythritol, and sucralose, but relatively less knowledge about Thaumatin. Regarding usage, only 24% of respondents have never used sweetener products, and a mere 1% have no intention of purchasing such products at all. When selecting sweetener products, the majority of consumers consider factors such as whether they are truly low-calorie, the specific type of sweetener used, safety concerns, taste, and sweetness level. When confronted with new sweetener products, 88% of respondents expressed willingness to try them after understanding their ingredients and safety profiles.
Consequently, we conclude that the majority of consumers hold a high degree of acceptance towards sweetener products, are eager to experiment with them, and view them as a novel and healthy alternative.
Potential users
At the beverage station, we encountered Ms. Zhong, who specifically chose diet cola (sugar-free) over regular cola.She enjoys the bubbly taste of carbonated drinks but wants to avoid excessive sugar intake. Our discussion with staff revealed that sales of sugar-free cola are equal to or even exceed those of regular cola. This suggests that sugar-reduced products have strong market competitiveness and have already garnered a loyal consumer base.
At the gym, we interviewed Mr. Xie during his workout. Our discussion highlighted a niche demand in fitness: sugar control strategies vary by individual. He explained that individuals aiming for weight loss and fat reduction might opt for sweeteners to manage calorie intake, while muscle builders tend to take a different approach. Personally, he doesn't prefer sweeteners, not due to safety concerns but because he believes reducing carbohydrate intake or adopting other methods suffices can meet the same result. We clarified that reducing carbs is an active process for those with good habits , but our focus is on individuals seeking dietary pleasure without strong self-control. He expressed understanding, acknowledging that not everyone can strictly manage their diet, and showed interest in our project, hoping it will bring healthier and more convenient options to fitness enthusiasts.
Sugar control professionals
While watching videos, we found a blogger who is dedicated to testing different zero-sugar and zero-calorie beverages and evaluating them based on his blood sugar changes, providing a real and reliable voice to the online community. He also created a group chat for sugar controlers, most of whom are diabetics or their families, as well as many people who simply want to reduce their sugar intake. Through diet check-ins, everyone can supervise each other. From the photos of punching in and out, we found that most people cannot control their overeating, eating sweets, fried chicken, etc. They hope that there are more products on the market that are friendly to people with diabetes, which can not only satisfy the taste buds but also truly achieve low glycemic index. Therefore, we hope that our project can help people with concerns to better navigate the sugar control period.
During the Public Approval Stage, we looked forward to understanding customers' expectations for sugar substitute products. Therefore, we distributed online questionnaires to the general public and conducted targeted interviews in places where potential target customers might be. We discovered that customers are concerned about safety issues the most and they care about whether sugar substitutes can bring health benefits by reducing and controlling sugar intake. Therefore, we emphasized the safety guarantees and health concepts of our project during our conversations, which received positive feedback. We believe that direct contact with users helps us clarify the advantages of our products, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent corporate spirit.
Enduring promotion
On the basis of project optimization and enhancement, we hope to establish interactive bridges with the community and other teams, not only extending the significance of the project, but also deeply reaching and benefiting a wider range of people, weaving a penetrating network of influence. As Andrew Grove said, "How well we communicate depends not only on how well we describe, but also on how well we are understood." Through long-term, continuous, simple, and instructive interactions, we can ensure that our ideas and actions are clearly perceived by the receiver, so that we can work together to create a better future through mutual understanding and resonance.
Manual
To provide more detailed guidance for the project, we have designed comprehensive manuals from different perspectives, showcasing our considerations across four dimensions: synthetic biology food track, long-term project development, project safety, and product usage. These manuals ensure that the project progresses smoothly through the four stages of design, experimentation, commercialization, and application.
White Paper
In the white paper, we start from the food village, combining domestic and foreign laws and relevant regulations, to provide some project design and safety control experience for them.
Project Development Manual
The manual starts from transgenic crops and introduces the process of the project from laboratory research to testing to production and listing, guiding the team to identify their positioning and development direction. In addition, in each part, we give the practices of this project to help the project develop more standardized and improved, and also facilitate readers' understanding.
Long-term Safety Supervision Manual
Our team takes the safety responsibilities we have very seriously. The manual expresses the importance of food safety, especially the relatively new food additives such as sweet protein. It analyzes the regulatory and legal characteristics of various countries, and develops a coordinated prevention and emergency response plan for sweet protein products, from experimentation, production, to market launch, to ensure long-term safety.
Product Manual
This manual is an instruction for consumers, including the usage of two types of hardware.
Popular Science Books
During the project, we have gained a deeper understanding of what sugar substitutes are and how they have evolved, and we have become increasingly interested in them. In order to present our understanding of it to everyone in a clear, vivid and objective way, we have designed a popular science booklet for the masses and drawn a picture book for children. Additionally, we produced a scientific video to introduce sugar substitutes. Through these innovative media, we can effectively spread knowledge about sugar substitutes and promote a scientific understanding and rational use of these products among all sectors of society.
Promotion of Synthetic Biology
In our questionnaire, we discovered that only 37% of respondents had heard of and had a relatively good understanding of synthetic biology. Therefore, we hope to raise awareness among a wider audience about what synthetic biology is, what it is currently doing, and how it differs from conventional biology.
In response, we have collaborated with schools, communities, and international organizations to organize science popularization activities aimed at deepening understanding of synthetic biology. Additionally, we are interpreting outstanding iGEM projects through tweets to showcase what synthetic biology is achieving. Furthermore, we are compiling a comparison of the similarities and differences between synthetic biology and conventional biology, intending to make this information available as a public powerpoint presentation to facilitate the promotion and teaching of this topic in schools.
Science Popularization Activities
science popularization
in Nantou Ancient Town
Tweets
Powerpoint
Engage in Implementation
In order to actually implement the project and make interactions productive, we initially designed, packaged, and embarked on the path of commercialization and entrepreneurship for our product.
Product
We packaged our final product: Sweetein, a Tomato Sugar Substitute. It has a wide range of applications, and can be added to a variety of food products such as milk tea, cakes, sports drinks, fruit and vegetable juices, as well as toothpaste, mouthwash, and other daily necessities to add flavor to the product.
From small tomato planting and harvesting, to factory juicing and processing, and finally to product application, our products show great economic value.
Commercialize
In terms of product commercialization considerations, we focus on the further processing of tomato sugar substitutes and the form of product packaging. Our tomato sugar substitutes are initially processed into tomato-flavored sweeteners, sweetening additives for beverages, and tomato-flavored bases for fruit and vegetable juices. We would like to offer our novel products to the company industries that need sugar substitute products through sugar substitute distributors. For packaging, we have some small ingenuity, such as printing our design of GMO icon on the package, and printing Braille so that the blind can identify the GMO products through the Braille on the package, as well as printing the sweetness level on the package of products with different sweetness in a conspicuous place, and so on.
Entrepreneurship
We believe our product has the potential to address the challenges facing the sugar substitute market. We will continue to work hard to bring our sugar substitute to the market as soon as possible to meet everyone's needs and achieve our shared goal of sustainable development. In response, we created Sweetein and wrote the Sweetein business plan, which details our entrepreneurial plans for the tomato sugar substitute. (See in Entrepreneurship) We hope to build on the foundation of Sweetein and create a well-established distribution channel to sell our Sweetein product. In addition, we expect that after the sales of Sweetein enter a stable stage, we will start to promote the sweetness detection method based on simple hardware, and regulate the sweetness level system of sweetened behverages and food products in Shenzhen, so as to realize the visualization of sweetness.
Total Optimization
"Human Practices is the study of how your work affects the world, and how the world affects your work."
How the world affects our work
As a result of the Integrated Human Practices, our program has been greatly improved in four areas: affordability, safety, practicality, and ease of replication
More economic Both sugar substitute companies and consumers are highly concerned with the economics of sugar substitutes. Given that our product is initially expensive to produce, our primary goal is to reduce costs and make it more affordable for consumers. To achieve this, we have modified the gene pathway and developed a method to present the product without the need for purification.
Safer Part of the visit urged us to evaluate the safety of sweetened proteins more comprehensively and to tell customers about it vividly and reliably. In terms of food security, it inspired us to form a Project Development Manual and a Long-Term Safety Supervision Manual based on our own laboratory conditions, production process and sweet protein properties. In addition to this, we analyzed the restrictions and regulations on synthetic biology food products under domestic and international laws and summarized them into the Biosecurity and Bioethics White Paper.
More practical By working with the hardware and modeling group, we obtained hardware that can easily detect the sweetness level. In addition to this, we have written a Product Manual in order to make the product practical.
Easier to promote In order to make the project easier to replicate, we then needed to use a more widely grown small tomato as our chassis plant. This made us more determined to choose the Micro-Tom small tomato variety as our chassis. After we finished our extensive visits, we also conducted various popularization activities to unveil sugar substitutes for the public and make the promotion of sugar substitutes easier in the future.
We focus on the connection and impact between the project and the world. We design detailed manuals for the project from various perspectives, showing our thinking on four levels: synthetic biology food safety and application, long-term development of the project, safety of the project, and use of the product, and guaranteeing the project in the four phases of design, testing, marketing, and utilization.
How our work affects the world
In our final design, Thaumatin can be obtained directly from tomato juice without purification. This sweetener is safe and reliable, does not produce calories and is able to satisfy people's sweet taste needs. In the future, Thaumatin produced from tomato can be used as a sugar substitute in beverages, candies, pharmaceuticals, sweets, and other food applications.
We focus on the connection and impact between the project and the world. We design detailed manuals for the project from various perspectives, showing our thinking on four levels: synthetic biology food safety and application, long-term development of the project, safety of the project, and use of the product, and guaranteeing the project in the four phases of design, testing, marketing, and utilization.
At the same time, we focus on the connection and impact of our products on the world. Sweetein products have emerged to address both the need for sugar control and the nutritional richness of fruits and vegetables. For the first time in the history of iGEM, we have achieved the transformation of tomato fruit, which is the first step in an attempt to transform the fruit. In the future, we hope to replace the excess sugar in the fruit with Thaumatin by means of synthetic biology, so that most of the fruits with excess sugar can be consumed by diabetics and obese people.
