WOULD YOU EAT THIS?! Researchers Turn Plastic Bottles Into Protein Cookies As Food Crisis Threat Looms

Researchers at Southern Illinois University have developed microbes that can turn discarded plastic bottles and corn stalk waste into protein-rich, 3D-printed cookies called microbytes. The project comes as JPMorgan warns global food costs could rise 5% in the first half of 2027, while more than 2 billion people already face food insecurity. Safety testing cleared the product for consumption, but institutional approval is still needed before the team can conduct taste tests. They’re working on adding starch, fiber, and sweetener before trying to make it available to the public within a few years.