SORA: Save Our Rice Anywhere

The SORA Project combats the issue of post-harvest loss, especially in the process of storage of rice in Sri Lanka. The project aims to maximize the quality and quantity of rice to ensure the food stability and safety of both farmers and citizens in Sri Lanka. To do this, the project will attempt to engineer a biosensor that will detect the levels of toxins in the rice to control the quality and quantity of rice production. These biosensors will be donated to Sri Lankan farmers.

Problem

Currently in Sri Lanka and many other developing countries, the rice industry relies on indigenous techniques to manage their crop products. The storage structure is instrumental in protecting the quality of rice as it is susceptible to extreme temperature, moisture, and pests or fungi. Rice is not only a major staple food in Sri Lanka but also in other developing countries, so it is urgent that we implement an effective post harvest system to "save our rice anywhere."

Biological Solution

To create this biosensor, we will mass produce Escherichia coli (E.Coli) to produce the CYP1A2 enzyme and attach a fluorescent tag on the enzyme for easier detection. By synthesizing cheap and mass-producible protein that we need to use for sensing the metabolites of fungi in rice (degree of contamination of rice), we can build an effective management system for rice. 

United Nations SDGs

Goal 1: No Poverty
Through this project, we aim to 

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