Bioplastic from vertical farms, Designer:  Marco Federico Cagnoni

Social Designer and researcher Marco Federico Cagnoni proposes an innovative production of bioplastic extracted from the latex of well-known vegetables such as: dandelion and chicory. These vegetables have the characteristic of growing rapidly and adapting easily to various climatic conditions. Selected plants are grown in vertical farms in order to avoid the use of pesticides and reduce water consumption by up to 90% compared to traditional cultures. In 2019, I was awarded the prestigious Dutch Stimuleringsfond grant that allowed me to collaborate with the Department of Microbiology and Botany at Utrecht University. The goal of the research was to produce a "non-extractive" biodegradable material, known as Caoutchouc, which will be used as an alternative to fossil-based disposable plastics. The rest of the plant, leaves and roots, being edible and highly nutritious, will be recycled and sold separately as a food resource. In this circular production where waste is "food," an ethical and environmentally friendly bioplastic will be produced, as opposed to the production of PLA originating from food sources such as: corn and sugarcane, which often cause deforestation and soil depletion.