ReGeniator

I have been to rural and urban parts of China, my family’s hometown, a few times as a child, where I witnessed its polluted cities and farmlands firsthand. Chemical fertilizers have helped China to feed its vast population despite little farmland. As of 2010, 10 million tons of fertilizer are being discharged into China’s rivers and lakes every year. Born and raised in B.C., Canada, I feel privileged to live in Vancouver, a city with one of the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per capita in North America. However, it is also prone to agricultural runoff, as well as many other places in the world. 

According to The National Water Quality Assessment, agricultural runoff is the leading cause of water pollution worldwide. It not only harms the aquatic ecosystem but also poses a severe threat to human health, causing diseases such as gastrointestinal infections, endocrine disruption, neurological disorders, kidney damage, and a variety of bacteria harmful to human health. Every year, an estimated 1.2 million people die from waterborne diseases.

As the global population is rising rapidly, expected to reach 9–10 billion by 2050, this results in an increased demand for food. Because it is difficult to determine the exact amount of nitrogen needed, farmers may over-apply fertilizers. With more agricultural practices, more fertilizers will be needed, which leads to increased agricultural runoff. Nitrogen and phosphorus are essential nutrients for plant growth, so they are often applied to fields as fertilizers. However, excess nitrogen and phosphorus can runoff from agricultural fields during heavy rainfall or over-irrigation, leading to water contamination.

Agricultural runoff occurs when water from precipitation flows over the surface of agricultural land and carries various pollutants (such as pesticides) into nearby water bodies. Though some pesticides can be degraded naturally in the soil, many of them are not easily degraded and remain in the environment for extended periods.

As this is an ongoing situation, there have been solutions to this water pollution issue. These include wastewater plant treatments, constructed wetlands, and chemical remediation. However, many traditional cleaning methods like these increase carbon emissions or energy-intensive procedures. For instance, wastewater plant treatments are costly and contribute to carbon emissions through energy consumption, chemical usage, biological processes, and sludge disposal. 

Moreover, agricultural runoff disproportionately affects marginalized groups located close to rural areas. These groups, including indigenous peoples and urban informal settlements, often face a lack of financial resources, technical expertise, and institutional capacity to address water pollution from agricultural runoff effectively. As a result, these marginalized communities are more prone to waterborne diseases caused by water pollution.

According to INNFINAITE’s research, the most effective solution to these problems is bioremediation. Bioremediation is an environmentally friendly technique that utilizes natural biological processes to eliminate toxic contaminants. It is one of the most sustainable, low-cost techniques to clean up agricultural runoff. 

To make the bioremediators adapt to different environments to aid marginalized communities, genetically engineered microbes are also part of our solution. The microorganisms used for bioremediation may have limited substrate specificity, inefficient metabolism of specific pollutants, and limited adaptability to environmental stresses (fluctuating temperatures, pH, moisture levels, competition from native microorganisms, etc.). For instance, by modifying enzyme systems within microbes, they can degrade a wider range of pollutants like pesticides, herbicides, and nutrient compounds. Genetically engineering microbes allow them to degrade specific pollutants and develop enhanced resistance to environmental stresses, increasing the effectiveness of cleaning up agricultural runoff. 

But what if genetically engineering these microorganisms leads to unintended consequences, such as a microorganism that evolves into a monstrous nuisance? Thankfully, artificial intelligence comes to the rescue. Artificial intelligence can be used for risk prediction and assessment by analyzing large datasets and modelling complex interactions within the environment to predict potential risks and unintended consequences of engineered microorganisms in the environment. This helps prepare for unanticipated consequences or side effects, such as unintended ecological niches, genetic transfer events, or ecological disruptions while introducing genetically engineered microorganisms into natural ecosystems. 

And now for the fun part: in ReGeniator, artificial intelligence and machine learning play a huge role in gathering a dataset of environmental data and corresponding DNA sequences of microbes for degrading specific pollutants. AI-driven microbe design allows for the customization and optimization of DNA sequences based on data collected from a desired environment. By analyzing vast amounts of genetic and environmental information, AI can identify patterns and correlations that inform the design of more effective microbial solutions. Therefore, it accelerates the detoxification process, restoring soil and water quality more quickly and effectively than traditional methods. 

ReGeniator not only offers a more effective means of addressing water pollution but also demonstrates a commitment to sustainability by reducing reliance on energy-intensive and carbon-emitting traditional remediation methods. INNFINAITE's holistic approach aligns with the growing urgency to combat water pollution while minimizing environmental harm.

1. Marginalized groups such as Indigenous peoples, urban informal settlements, and economically disadvantaged groups.

• Problem: For Canada, more than half of these marginalized groups live in rural areas, especially Indigenous peoples. These populations frequently experience the worst effects of agricultural runoff water contamination, including increased health risks and financial burdens from waterborne illnesses and environmental deterioration. They are also more susceptible to environmental risks because they frequently encounter systemic barriers, such as a lack of institutional support, technical experience, and financial resources.

• Solution: ReGeniator offers a community-driven, accessible solution to water pollution to empower marginalized communities. Restoring water quality and lowering health disparities can be achieved sustainably with the help of this approach, which uses bioremediation processes customized to the local environmental conditions. AI integration for risk prediction also improves safety and complies with regulations, thus the solution helps these communities without introducing new hazards.

2. The global population facing the need for more food to accommodate future generations, aka us.

• Problem: With the global population projected to reach 9-10 billion by 2050, the demand for clean water and food production is escalating, placing strain on agriculture and exacerbating water pollution issues from increased use of fertilization. 

• Solution: ReGeniator (insert Hollywood laugh track)

In addition, ReGeniator can also serve different stakeholders involved in agriculture, environmental management, public health, and policymaking. This includes:

1. Farmers, agronomists, soil scientists, and other agricultural professionals. They can benefit from ReGeniator's insights and recommendations for optimizing fertilizer usage and reducing pollution risks.
2. Environmental agencies and non-governmental organizations. ReGeniator offers insights for addressing water pollution issues, supporting their efforts to protect natural resources and public health.
3. Water treatment facilities. Facilities responsible for ensuring safe drinking water supplies will find ReGeniator's bioremediation techniques and AI-driven risk assessment valuable for enhancing water treatment processes and reducing pollution impacts.
4. Policymakers. ReGeniator can help with regulatory frameworks and policy choices that address water pollution and agricultural runoff
5. Research and academic institutions. Collaboration with research institutions and academia can not only further validate the effectiveness and safety of ReGeniator's approach, but ReGeniator can also provide its collected data to contribute to academic research on biology and computer science. 
6. Community organizations. ReGeniator brings further awareness to environmental injustices and water pollution stemming from agricultural runoff. 

My name is Tyra, and I am the team leader of ReGeniator and the founder of INNFINAITE. I’ve been to rural and urban parts of China, my family’s hometown, a few times as a child, where Having spent time in both rural and urban parts of China, I witnessed the devastating effects of pollution on cities and farmlands at a young age. I remember playing around with the water pumps that are typically used for sanitization and drinking and pumping out brown-coloured water. These experiences left a lasting impression on me, fueling my interest in water pollution and my passion for environmental conservation. 

Born and raised in B.C., Canada, I am privileged to live in Vancouver, one of the “cleanest” cities in North America.  However, it is also prone to agricultural runoff, as well as many other places in the world. Witnessing the stark contrast between the pristine natural landscapes of Vancouver and the pollution challenges faced by other regions, such as the polluted cities and farmlands I encountered in China, I realized that the importance of global efforts to address environmental degradation. Everyone deserves access to clean water and healthy ecosystems, regardless of their cultural differences or socioeconomic status. 

I understand the diverse perspectives and needs of communities affected by water pollution and agricultural runoff, so I am dedicated to ensuring that ReGeniator is built to address these specific challenges.

It is a concept stage at the moment because INNFINAITE has not finished building and testing our prototype. So far, INNFINAITE has conducted in-depth research on bioremediation, genetic engineering, and artificial intelligence to construct a how-to guide for ourselves to build the prototype (my research paper). We are currently in the process of building our prototype using our knowledge of computer science and biology by collecting data to train the machine learning models.

INNFINAITE is applying to increase our visibility to promote harnessing the infinite potential of AI to address global challenges and contribute to the betterment of humanity through innovation and collaboration. INNFINAITE aligns perfectly with Solve's values of optimism, partnership, open innovation, human-centerd solutions, and inclusive technology, and we strive to uphold these principles in all aspects of our work. 

Specifically, we hope Solve can help us overcome the following barriers: 

1. Technical challenges: Developing and optimizing the technology behind Regeniator requires specialized knowledge and resources. Solve's network can connect us with technical experts and collaborators who can provide valuable insights, guidance, and possibly even access to cutting-edge technologies that can enhance our solution.

2. Legal or regulatory matters: as INNFINAITE is a youth-led nonprofit organization, it is difficult for us to navigate the complex legal and regulatory landscape surrounding our solution, including intellectual property rights and compliance with relevant laws and standards. Solve can facilitate connections with legal experts who can help us navigate these challenges and ensure that our solution meets all necessary requirements.

3. Cultural and market barriers: Promoting widespread adoption of ReGeniator and awareness of agricultural runoff through our solution requires overcoming cultural barriers and gaining traction in the market. Solve's diverse network of partners and stakeholders can offer us important market insights, develop a greater understanding of different cultural contexts and consumer preferences, and provide valuable market insights and connections to potential collaborators and customers.

4. Financial barriers and access to resources: Securing sufficient funding to further develop and scale ReGeniator is a significant challenge for us. We believe Solve's network of partners can offer both financial and non-financial help, including access to grants, investments, and in-kind resources such as expertise and mentorship.