Glyphosate is an organophosphorus broad-spectrum herbicide widely used in agriculture, known for its high efficiency, low cost, and non-selective weed control properties. Despite its widespread use globally, especially in crop cultivation like tea plantations, concerns about its environmental and health impacts have gradually arisen. Glyphosate degrades slowly in soil, leading to accumulation that affects soil microorganisms and ecosystems. Additionally, its main degradation product, AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid), is also toxic, further exacerbating environmental pollution.

Currently, common methods for glyphosate treatment include chemical degradation, physical treatment, and biodegradation. While these methods can partially address glyphosate residue under different conditions, each has its own significant limitations.

We have designed a multi-module E. coli system capable of efficiently degrading glyphosate. Additionally, we have implemented a suicide system to ensure project safety. Our degradation method is designed to efficiently and safely break down glyphosate in the soil while preventing secondary pollution. By engineering E. coli to rapidly absorb and degrade glyphosate, combined with a suicide system to prevent the engineered bacteria from spreading into the environment, this innovative biodegradation technology not only enhances the efficiency of glyphosate degradation but also reduces its negative impact on the environment and crops.

Our project reduces glyphosate contamination in water sources by degrading the herbicide, thus preserving the cleanliness and safety of water resources and ensuring the supply of healthy drinking water.

By utilizing E. coli for glyphosate biodegradation, we reduce reliance on harmful chemicals, promoting a more sustainable agricultural production method. This project helps minimize the use of toxic substances and encourages environmentally friendly weed control practices.

Glyphosate used in agricultural production often flows into water bodies, leading to issues like eutrophication. Our project helps reduce chemical pollution in aquatic systems, protecting the health of water ecosystems and ensuring that underwater life is not harmed.

By degrading glyphosate, our project protects terrestrial ecosystems from chemical pollution, preventing long-term negative impacts on soil microorganisms and plants. This contributes to the restoration and conservation of biodiversity.

Through our communication with Mr. Deng Qing from Xingche Environmental Protection organization, we gained a deeper understanding and expansion of our project. Mr. Deng pointed out that glyphosate not only contaminates surface water but also permeates into groundwater systems, which means our project can further expand to address groundwater protection. Following Mr. Deng’s advice, we have come to better understand the importance of Goal 6: CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION, realizing that our project needs to address the prevention of groundwater contamination. As a result, we later visited a wastewater treatment plant to gain a deeper understanding of how glyphosate is treated in water bodies.

In addition, Mr. Deng shared his rich experience in environmental protection public welfare activities, suggesting that when conducting outreach and education, we should use clear, concise, and visual methods to ensure the content is easy to understand and avoid being overly complicated. He particularly highlighted that students often have a greater influence in sustainable development activities compared to adults, as the public perceives their motivations as more genuine, leading to greater trust and resonance. This provided valuable guidance for our future educational activities, and we will focus on delivering simple and clear messages while leveraging the advantages of our student identity to promote the goals of sustainable development.Finally, we added each other on WeChat and became volunteers of the organization to jointly promote the Sustainable Development Goals.

In Goal 6, we focus on Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality, reduce pollution, eliminate dumping of waste and harmful chemicals, decrease the proportion of untreated wastewater, and significantly increase the safe reuse of water.

Our project is dedicated to degrading glyphosate, a widely used chemical herbicide that not only affects surface water but can also pollute groundwater through infiltration. Urban water is relatively safe due to various protective measures. However, in China, many rural areas rely on wells for water, which may lead to potential contamination of chemicals such as glyphosate.The residue of glyphosate in water bodies can negatively impact water quality and pose risks to aquatic life and human health.

We aim to enhance the safety and reusability of water resources by using engineered E. coli to degrade glyphosate.

At our project's offline seminar, we not only optimized the project by promoting it and gathering feedback but also deepened our understanding of it. During the discussions, we clearly recognized that our project, by degrading glyphosate, helps reduce the entry of harmful substances into drinking water sources, improves the aquatic environment, and lowers the threat to aquatic life and human health.

In response to concerns about potential byproducts during the degradation process, we explained the project's optimized design in detail. We introduced specific proteins to absorb the byproducts and used corresponding enzymes to break them down. Ultimately, glyphosate and its byproducts are completely degraded into glycine and inorganic phosphate, preventing secondary pollution in the environment.

However, during the discussion, some participants raised concerns about the general societal caution toward "genetically modified" technologies, particularly the potential risks of genetically modified microorganisms spreading uncontrollably in the environment. There was worry that if our *E. coli* were accidentally released, it might cause unforeseen impacts on the environment and other microbial communities, potentially endangering water safety.

Biosafety has always been a key focus of our project. To address this, we consulted with Dr. Yuan, a postdoctoral researcher in biology at Wuhan University, to discuss effective strategies for ensuring biosafety.

We discussed biosafety control mechanisms with Postdoctoral Fellow Yuan to ensure that the survival of microorganisms is restricted under specific conditions, preventing their spread into the natural environment.

During our discussion, we considered several approaches. One method was to conduct microbial cultivation and processing in sealed, double-layered containers to avoid contact with the outside environment. However, while effective, this method would negatively impact the project's efficiency and be highly inconvenient to operate. As a result, we also explored other alternatives, such as making the growth of microorganisms dependent on externally controlled substances in the lab or designing a self-destruction system to ensure that microorganisms cannot survive if they escape into the environment.

After discussing with Postdoctoral Fellow Yuan and reviewing relevant literature, we ultimately designed a suicide system based on the pCspA cold-inducible promoter and the *mazF* toxin gene. This system ensures that under specific conditions, the microorganisms automatically trigger a self-destruction mechanism, effectively safeguarding the project from the risk of uncontrolled microbial spread. Through this design, we not only enhance the biosafety of the project but also maintain the efficiency of experimental operations, providing a safer foundation for the project's future promotion.

During our visit to the wastewater treatment plant, we gained a deeper understanding of how pesticides are treated in wastewater. The staff explained that the microorganisms in the treatment tanks do not need to be replaced, as they can continuously purify the wastewater by using harmful substances as nutrients. This gave us confidence in developing microorganisms capable of degrading glyphosate. In the future, we could use microorganisms in closed containers to treat wastewater, where they would be able to perform effectively in complex environments over a long period of time.

Finally, we expressed to the WHHS-Pro-China team our desire to serve as volunteers for a day at the sewage treatment plant. During the volunteer period, we observed how the staff efficiently treated and purified sewage. By experiencing this process firsthand, we not only learned about the technology and process of sewage treatment, but also gained a deeper understanding of the importance of water resource management. This volunteer experience has inspired us to have a stronger awareness of environmental protection and made us realize the key role of teamwork in promoting sustainable development.

We created a poster that highlights key issues related to wastewater treatment and our concerns about climate change. The poster emphasizes the importance of wastewater treatment. Through this kind of outreach, we hope to raise public awareness about wastewater treatment and environmental protection, encouraging more people to pay attention to these critical issues.

Through our activities, we aim to raise public awareness about the pollution of water resources caused by pesticides, especially the potential environmental hazards of widely used herbicides like glyphosate. We hope that through advocacy and education, more people will realize that pesticide residues not only affect agricultural production but also pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health. Following expert advice, we have also designed a suicide system. Our team hopes to develop safe and effective microbial technology that utilizes biodegradation methods to treat harmful substances in wastewater, thereby reducing chemical pollution.

We believe that through our efforts, we can contribute to the development of wastewater treatment technology while improving water quality and protecting water resources. Our ultimate goal is to achieve sustainable environmental management, reducing the long-term negative impact of pesticide residues on water sources and ecosystems, and ensuring cleaner water resources for more people. We hope this will raise society's awareness of environmental protection and encourage collective efforts to reduce pollution and safeguard the planet's ecosystems.

Glyphosate is the main active ingredient in many herbicides and is widely used in agricultural production. However, it poses a pollution risk to soil, water bodies, and entire ecosystems. Our project provides an environmentally friendly solution by using engineered microorganisms to degrade glyphosate, aiming to reduce its negative impact on the environment and human health while promoting the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.

SDG 12 is a key focus for us, and through our persistent efforts, we aim to contribute to the achievement of the following targets:

Target 12.2: Sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources

Target 12.4: Environmentally sound management of chemicals and waste

Target 12.5: Reduction of waste generation

Target 12.8: Promotion of sustainable development knowledge and awareness

Target 12.A: Support for developing countries in strengthening scientific and technological capacity

We place special emphasis on Target 12.4. Although the original deadline for this target was set for 2020, we remain committed to promoting its principles and objectives, particularly in the area of chemical lifecycle management and reducing emissions to air, water, and soil. By using biotechnology to degrade glyphosate, we not only mitigate its environmental impact but also offer new perspectives for its environmentally sound management.

Additionally, we focus on Target 12.A, which aims to support developing countries in strengthening their scientific and technological capabilities to promote more sustainable consumption and production patterns. As a team from China, we are well aware of the importance of this target for developing nations. To this end, we have organized a series of activities to raise public awareness of environmental technologies and promote the adoption of sustainable production models in agriculture.

Our team visited a pesticide shop to further understand glyphosate as a very common herbicide, confirming its widespread use in agriculture and the specific environments in which it is applied. During our conversation with the shop owner, we introduced our project. The owner expressed recognition and approval of our initiative, noting that this environmentally friendly solution has great potential.

Our team visited two tea plantations to gain deeper insight into the use of herbicides in tea production and learned that glyphosate is very commonly used. However, due to the unique nature of tea leaves, they cannot undergo excessive washing during production, which has led tea plantation managers to consider how best to address the issue of glyphosate residues.

During our discussions with the plantation managers, we introduced our project concept, explaining how engineered microorganisms could degrade glyphosate, reducing its impact on the environment and tea production. The owner expressed strong approval of our project, recognizing that this technology not only helps reduce environmental pollution in agricultural production but also promotes more responsible farming practices. She also indicated her willingness to try this technology once our project reaches maturity.

Although our project has not yet been fully developed to the application stage, we still made some suggestions based on the survey results. We recommend that tea gardens reduce the use of glyphosate at the current stage, especially stop using it for a period of time before picking, so as to reduce the impact of pesticide residues on crops and the environment. We hope that through such short-term adjustments, we can lay the foundation for long-term agricultural sustainable development.

Additionally, the owner suggested that, aside from focusing on applications within tea plantations, we could also explore the consumer side to better understand their views and needs regarding herbicide management.

Our team visited a tea market and engaged in conversations with multiple tea distributors to understand their real needs and challenges in production and sales. We communicated with the manager of a high-end tea brand, Ba Ma Tea. The manager mentioned that customers are generally concerned about pesticide residues in tea. Although manufacturers try to control pesticide residues within safe limits during the tea production process, there is no unified, authoritative reference standard for these limits, which often leaves consumers feeling uneasy.

During our conversation, we also introduced our project concept, which involves using microbial technology to degrade glyphosate residues in tea. Through our discussion, we came up with a new idea: if we could design a specialized fermentation tank for the tea fermentation process, utilizing microbial fermentation technology to further degrade glyphosate residues during tea processing, it could not only eliminate pesticide residues more effectively but also enhance the safety of the tea, addressing consumers' concerns for healthier products.

This idea was positively received by the manager, who believed it could bring new possibilities for environmentally friendly production in the tea industry.

Our team visited a garden flower base to learn about the use of herbicides in horticulture and engaged in discussions with several garden managers. The owners commonly mentioned that due to the complexity of dealing with pesticide residues, they often resort to manual weeding. However, manual weeding is time-consuming and labor-intensive, making them feel burdened by the workload.

During our conversations, we introduced in detail our product concept of using microbial technology to handle glyphosate residues. In response, several owners expressed their support, stating that if our product could effectively address the herbicide residue issue, it would not only reduce the amount of manual weeding but also make their work easier and more efficient. This feedback has further strengthened our confidence in the practical application potential of our project.

As our project took shape, we visited the Hubei Province Premium Agricultural Products Station to promote our work, coinciding with the 2024 International Vine Tea Conference held in Wuhan. This provided us with a valuable opportunity to present our project to a broader audience within the tea industry.

We introduced our environmentally friendly herbicide solution, which supports more sustainable agricultural practices. By using biotechnology to replace traditional chemical methods, we aim not only to reduce environmental pollution in tea production but also to promote eco-friendly practices throughout the entire supply chain, from production to consumption. Our vision is that through the promotion of our project, the industry will widely adopt biotechnological solutions, encouraging more tea producers and consumers to contribute to environmental protection together.

For Target 12.8: By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and living in harmony with nature.

Our team created posters about the hazards of glyphosate and plant growth guides, which we displayed in public spaces to help the public better understand the negative impact of pesticides on the environment, while also showcasing the feasibility of using microbial technology to address these environmental issues.

Through these promotional materials, we aim to effectively raise public environmental awareness, encouraging more people to focus on the threat that pesticide residues pose to ecosystems, and to recognize the potential of biotechnology in environmental protection. Our goal is not only to promote the concept of sustainable development but also to inspire the public to adopt more environmentally friendly practices, fostering harmony between humans and nature.

For Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources, and Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.

We had discussions with Teacher Sun from the Department of Chemistry at Lanzhou University and Teacher Chen from the Department of Chemistry at Wuhan University. Both expressed approval of our project, acknowledging that our use of microbial technology to degrade glyphosate successfully protects soil and water resources while promoting more sustainable agricultural production. This technology also facilitates the sustainable use of natural resources in agriculture and avoids the secondary pollution issues that traditional herbicide treatments may cause.

However, both Teachers pointed out that if our technology is too complex or costly, it could limit its application in broader fields, especially for small farmers with limited resources. To address this challenge, we plan to continue developing and optimizing the project in the future, aiming to reduce the cost of the technology and make it more economically viable. This will help achieve widespread application and provide a practical, environmentally friendly solution for agricultural producers.

Through the activities we have carried out, our goal is to promote sustainability throughout the entire agricultural production chain, from production to consumption. We hope that by applying biotechnology, we can not only reduce the environmental impact of the production process but also enable consumers to benefit from more eco-friendly and healthier agricultural products.

At the same time, based on the advice of various experts, we will optimize the project in the future, particularly in terms of cost control and technical simplification. By making improvements to reduce implementation costs, we aim to make the project more applicable to farms of different sizes, especially small-scale farmers with limited resources. Through these efforts, we hope to accelerate the practical application of the project, providing the agricultural sector with a feasible and environmentally friendly herbicide solution and driving the industry toward more sustainable development.

In Goal 14, we are committed to Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, particularly from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.

Glyphosate, a common agricultural chemical, can easily enter rivers, lakes, and even oceans through surface runoff, leading to water pollution and negatively affecting the health of aquatic organisms. Our project utilizes engineered microbial technology to effectively degrade glyphosate, reducing its residue in water bodies and preventing its harmful impact on aquatic ecosystems.

This degradation technology helps protect freshwater and marine environments, preventing aquatic life from being harmed by exposure to hazardous chemicals. By degrading glyphosate, our project provides a sustainable solution for water purification and contributes to maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance.

At the seminar we hosted, participants actively discussed the potential impacts of our project. Students mentioned that by reducing the entry of chemical pollutants like glyphosate into rivers, lakes, and oceans, our project could effectively protect the habitats of aquatic organisms, reducing their environmental stress. Additionally, it could help prevent eutrophication and toxic algal blooms in water bodies, contributing to maintaining ecological balance.

However, some concerns were raised about the potential negative effects of releasing engineered microorganisms into aquatic environments, as it might disrupt the existing microbial communities and destabilize ecosystems. In response, we explained that our project is designed for use in terrestrial environments, such as tea plantations. Moreover, we have incorporated a suicide system into the design to ensure that the engineered microorganisms automatically die after completing their degradation tasks, thus preventing any long-term impact on external ecosystems. This design ensures the safety of the technology while minimizing environmental disturbance.

We visited the Aquatic Biology Museum and had discussions with the researchers there. The researchers mentioned that our project, by degrading glyphosate in land-based agricultural activities, effectively prevents these chemicals from entering rivers and oceans through surface runoff. This, in turn, reduces the risk of aquatic organisms being exposed to harmful substances. Such preventive measures not only protect aquatic ecosystems but also play a crucial role in safeguarding the health of aquatic life and maintaining ecological balance.

During this process, we also actively participated in the museum's explanation activities and shared with visitors the importance of aquatic life protection. Through vivid explanations and interactions, we conveyed to the public the necessity of protecting aquatic ecosystems. We demonstrated the important role of aquatic life in maintaining ecological balance and supporting human life, and emphasized the urgency of reducing the use of chemicals and protecting water quality. We hope to make visitors more aware of the responsibilities of individuals and communities in environmental protection, inspire more people to pay attention to and participate in aquatic life protection, and contribute to sustainable development together.

We conducted an online interview with Dr. Kuang, an ecologist from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, to discuss the potential risks that engineered microorganisms might pose to marine life. Dr. Kuang acknowledged that while engineered microorganisms could indeed impact marine environments, the risks are manageable with the appropriate safety measures in place. He also suggested implementing a microbial tracking system to ensure the project's safety during operation. This approach would not only enhance the feasibility of the project but also further ensure environmental protection.

Through our various activities, our goal is to reduce the pollution caused by land-based agricultural activities to water bodies, thereby protecting the health of aquatic organisms and maintaining the balance of aquatic ecosystems. At the same time, we are aware of the potential risks associated with the project, which is why we actively listened to the suggestions from our peers and Dr. Kuang. We plan to further optimize the project in the future to ensure its safety and sustainability.

We will continue to improve our biotechnology, particularly in the safe management of engineered microorganisms, by introducing tracking and control mechanisms to minimize their impact on the environment. Through these efforts, we aim to develop an innovative solution that not only effectively degrades glyphosate but also ensures environmental safety, ultimately promoting the sustainable development of both agriculture and the environment.

We are committed to the ongoing promotion of Target 15.1.

Glyphosate negatively impacts plant and microbial communities in terrestrial ecosystems, particularly in farmlands and surrounding environments. The excessive use of herbicides can harm soil health and lead to a decline in biodiversity. Our project, by reducing glyphosate residues, helps protect the soil and plants in both agricultural and natural ecosystems. This contributes to preserving ecosystem services, such as soil fertility and water filtration, and ensures the sustainable use of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems.

We held an online seminar specifically focused on Sustainable Development Goal 15. During the event, we highlighted that our project can reduce chemical residues in farmlands and natural habitats, protecting the microbial and plant communities in the soil, and thereby promoting the development of biodiversity.

Additionally, we discussed that glyphosate is not only used in tea plantations but is also widely applied in orchards, community landscaping, forest areas, and other weeding scenarios. To better promote the application of our project, we plan to gain a deeper understanding of how glyphosate is used in these different contexts, particularly focusing on local funding situations and their willingness to adopt our solution. This will help us more effectively tailor our project promotion strategies in the future, ensuring it can adapt to various use cases.

Attachment:

We visited Luojia Mountain and had an conversation with a sanitation worker who was weeding. He told us that he uses glyphosate herbicide but was unaware of its potential hazards. He admitted that his main concern was whether the herbicide was effective in killing weeds, and he hadn’t considered the long-term harm caused by the incomplete degradation of such chemicals. He also mentioned that the short-term effectiveness of herbicides is their top priority, and as long as the benefits outweigh the risks, they consider it acceptable.We conducted a scientific education with Grandpa about the hazards of glyphosate and explained in detail its potential impact on the environment and health. We suggested that he reduce the frequency of using glyphosate herbicides and consider setting up a usage cycle to reduce the accumulation of chemicals and negative impacts on the ecology. In this way, not only can we effectively manage weeds, but we can also contribute to protecting the environment and our own health.

This exchange made us realize that in the pursuit of short-term economic benefits, many people overlook the long-term environmental impacts. It also inspired us to intensify our efforts in raising awareness about the dangers of pesticides, especially by educating the public about the potential effects of these chemicals on the environment. Our goal is to guide people to focus on sustainability while balancing short-term gains with environmental protection.

We also spoke with the community management staff, who mentioned that glyphosate is the herbicide they rely on for routine weeding in the community. They explained that if the greenery areas are overgrown with weeds, it not only affects the aesthetics of the community but also creates hygiene blind spots that can breed mosquitoes. However, due to concerns about the potential health risks posed by herbicides, they are hesitant to use them frequently. Additionally, they are aware that overuse of herbicides could damage the soil's ecosystem and negatively affect the growth of other plants.

When we introduced our project idea to him, he expressed great interest, particularly in the potential of a solution that could eliminate herbicide residues. He mentioned that such a solution would allow them to conduct routine community maintenance with greater peace of mind, while also reducing negative environmental impacts.

For now, we recommend reducing the frequency of glyphosate use and considering setting a usage cycle to reduce the impact of chemicals on the environment and health. By developing a reasonable application plan, such as using it during a specific time period during the growing season, the accumulation of residues can be effectively reduced. At the same time, combining other weed control methods, such as manual weeding or adopting eco-friendly alternatives, will help achieve more sustainable park management. We hope that such adjustments can protect the ecological environment.

We created posters and distributed flyers to promote the concept of sustainable development to the public. Through these materials, we aim to encourage people to consider the long-term environmental impacts of agricultural practices, rather than focusing solely on immediate economic benefits. With our efforts, we hope to raise awareness about the importance of environmental protection and sustainable agricultural development, motivating people to balance economic gains with ecological preservation and environmental protection.

Through the activities we have conducted, we aim to raise public awareness about the use of herbicides in agricultural production, particularly regarding their long-term environmental impacts. Through advocacy and education, we help people understand the ecological issues that can arise from the excessive use of chemical herbicides while showcasing sustainable alternatives.

In these activities, we also further clarified the social application scenarios for our project, particularly its potential use in tea plantations, orchards, and community landscaping. Our project is not only focused on addressing glyphosate residue but also on promoting the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services. Through our efforts, we hope to reduce the negative impacts of chemicals in agricultural production while fostering the health and sustainable development of ecosystems.

We hope that through our persistent efforts, we can contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Although we have made improvements to our project based on the advice of various experts, due to time and resource constraints, we have not yet fully optimized the project. In terms of project implementation, we also need to explore and adjust based on different usage scenarios.

In the future, we will continue to focus on optimizing the project and exploring more viable solutions. Through these efforts, we aim to create a more prosperous and sustainable future for agricultural production. At the same time, we will remain committed to promoting the concept of sustainable development, contributing more to environmental protection and the sustainable development of agriculture.