SAGICOR VISIONARIES CHALLENGE
Title of Project
Name and Email address of Students
Making Plates out of Corn Starch
Jiliany Nabet- njiliany@yahoo.com
Lisa Cuello- lisa.yvelis@gmail.com
Julia Puerto-florence_puerto@yahoo.com
Gisellie Hernandez- GisellieHernandez@hotmail.com
Giselle Vargas-osmandvargas@yahoo.com
Team Name
Starchy Goodness
Name of School
Muffles College High School
San Andres Street
Orange Walk Town
Belize, C.A.
Address of School
Phone Number of School
501-322-2033 & 501-322-0302
Name of Mentor
Name and Email address of teacher
Signature of teacher or school official
Date
10-Oct-14
Check the Box that Best Describes the Entry
Category A: Biology, Chemistry, Agriculture,
Environment
Category B: Engineering, :Physics, Computer Science
Abstract:
Why do you think Muffles College went green? Maybe it is because they know that Styrofoam
plates won’t decompose any time soon but rather take approximately a million years in the process to break
down. If these materials don’t break down, they will cause serious pollution and waste to the environment.
These plates that take long to break down, can end up in our waters whereby the marine life may confuse it
for food and attempt to consume it. This won’t only affect people but also our wild life. We need to protect
our environment therefore our solution to this is to make our own plates made out of corn starch. To do this,
we plan to grow our own corn using sustainable agriculture. It is an approach that attempts to use natural
resources without diminishing their availability to future generations or polluting the environment. The corn
starch will be grown at the back of the school. So at the end, we will be conserving water, preventing pollution
and minimizing fossil fuel use. After the corn is grown, it will be turned to corn starch and then into the plates
so that the school may start using it. The beauty of this is that after being used and thrown away, the plates
will decompose due to its natural components. Our project strives to help our school go green, reduce the use
of non-biodegradable plates, prevent pollution, and use the extra land in our school to benefit our
environment and Belize in the long run.
Problem Statement and Significance of the Problem:
A major problem that has been created in our country today is the excessive amount
of waste material being deposited at dump sites all across the country. It is common
knowledge that burning waste materials could be harmful to humans, the
environment, and even the ozone layer. So what would be the solution to minimize
the amount of waste being accumulated everywhere? We all know that certain types
of waste materials are biodegradable which means that they are capable of breaking
down rapidly by the action of microorganisms. Biodegradable materials have the
capability of breaking down into their raw materials after a certain time.
Biodegradable substances include food scraps, wood, paper, and human and animal
waste. Unfortunately, our dumpsites here in Belize are mostly filled with nonbiodegradable products like metal, glass, plastic, and especially Styrofoam products
which are commonly used as food containers. Styrofoam plates are being used
almost everywhere as food containers because of its convenience and affordability.
Too many disposable plates are being used and thrown away as trash nowadays. The
increase in waste can lead to serious environmental problems. In Muffles College
High School, it was decided to do a Go Green campaign so to decrease the number
of Styrofoam plates being thrown away. It was encouraged for the students to take
their own food container so that there is no waste being deposited.
Objectives of the Project:
To grow corn, a local product.
To obtain raw materials out of the corn so to produce a disposable plate.
To create a food container that is biodegradable and can be produced locally using a
local product.
To test the durability of the plate by placing weights on them.
To produce an affordable plate so that it can be modest for the locals to buy.
To test how long it takes the corn starch plates to biodegrade.
To grow okra so as to prevent the soil from losing its nutrients.
To provide the extra corn and okra produced to the school’s feeding program.
To make our own manure from decomposed materials.
APPROACH
1. Planting of corn
A good time to plant corn is when the soil is about 62 °F (16.670C) when
measured about three inches down. To be sure of the temperature, it can be
measured with a thermometer. In this way the corn will grow in a faster rate.
The warm temperature of the soil will hasten the germination rate. This will
also decrease the chances of insects and weed problems when it rains or
during the cold weather. Corn grows in any type of soil but it’s better to plant
it in loose friable soil. The ideal pH would be of 5.5-6.5.
It is planned to use six acres of land to plant the corn.
To commence, the land must be cleared from vegetation. It is better to start
planting in soil without other vegetation.
If the soil has a high pH, it is recommended to add limestone. Remember it's
optional.
To space the plants they can be planted at 30 cm (1ft) within the rows and 90
cm (3 ft.) between rows. This provides enough spacing for the plants.
The corn seeds can be planted in the soil manually by the students but it can
also be planted using a mechanical planter. It is better for the students to plant
it so that they have time to be outdoors.
Deep ploughing- It is better to plough the soil greater than 20in (20cm) since it
modifies the soil's water retention characteristics.
Plant two seeds per hole and cover with the soil.
The plants are required to be watered but excessive watering can lead the
seeds to rot or the plants can die.
The corn will take approximately 60-100 days to grow.
To harvest the corn, hold the corn ear firmly and pull it downwards briskly for
it to snap away from the plant. Also a sharp knife can be used.
The corn has to be mature enough to be harvested. This is known when the
end of the ear is rounded or blunt. It can also be seen from the silks which dry
up and this shows that it is almost ready to be picked.
In order to prevent the soil from losing all nutrients, after the corn is
harvested, okra will be planted.
2. Turning corn into cornstarch
The corn will be separated from the cob and washed then placed under the sun
so it may be dried.
The corn will be turned into corn starch using corn mills.
10 corn mills are needed and this will require 10 students.
The students will use the corn mills to grind the corn into the corn starch.
The corn will be grinded with the cellulose so that the plates may be rigid
when manufactured.
3. Manufacturing the plates
The student body and school faculty can take part in the manufacturing of
these plates.
The cornstarch is mixed with water in a 1:1 1/4 cup ratio. This is basically
the amount to make one plate.
This mixture is then heated and stirred until its thick.
The plates will be molded to the shapes and sizes needed. This will provide
students an extra hobby.
When the plates are done the durability will be tested by placing weights
on them.
4. Compost
When the corn is harvested, the remaining plant will no longer be in use. It
will then be gathered together as compost. There will be a specific area at
the school where all the remaining plant will be disposed of. when the
plates have already been used, then they will be also be disposed of at the
same place so that the can decompose and create a compost.
5. Feeding program
Muffles College is planning to implement a feeding program. Our project will
help by providing the school with the extra corn which was not used to make
plates and also the okra planted. This is used so to provide the students with
food for lunch.
The Competition
Many people have tried to solve this problem of excessive waste material, but none
have been successful. Last two years, a project was entered into the sagicor
competition whereby feathers were used to make plates and other utensils in order to
decrease pollution levels in the school. For our project, we also want to decrease
pollution in our school, which is caused by the usage of Styrofoam plates and cups.
Our goal is to make plates out of biodegradable material, corn starch in this case, and
these would be used in the cafeteria instead of the Styrofoam. This would be
effective since Styrofoam is one of the most harmful materials for the environment,
so the corn starch plates will help to combat this land pollution. In comparison to the
feather-based plates, our plates will actually be able to decompose once disposed of.
Our project will also benefit our school in the feeding program. In addition, Belize
has manufactured corn-based products like plates which claim to decompose
quickly when disposed of, but this is not so. Hence, we also intend to create corn
starch plates that would truly decompose within a week of disposal.
Resources Needed
Major Resources
1 sack of corn seeds
Price(US$)
Approximately 25US$
Students to plant the corn
10 Corn mills
Approximately 300US$
Staff and students to make the plates
Black soil from school
Manure from the compost
Timetable
TASK TO BE
COMPLETED
PERSONS
M1
COMPLETETING
THE TASK
Planting and
maintenance of
corn
Students of Muffles
College High School
Harvesting the
corn
Students of Muffles
College High School
Turning corn to
cornstarch
Manufacturers
Manufacturing
plates
Students and faculty
M2
M3 M4 M5 M6
M7 M8
Stem
This project entails all the aspects of STEM, which includes Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics. Science would be used in order to grow the corn
plants faster and healthier. Due to Science, we will know the right type of soil and
the appropriate conditions needed for the luscious growth and development of the
corn plants. Science and Technology will work hand in hand to turn the corn into
corn starch. Engineering and Mathematics would come into play for the
manufacturing of the corn starch plates. In addition, the mathematics would be used
to calculate how much corn would be needed to make the corn starch and how much
corn starch would be needed to make the corn starch plates.
Community involvement and community impact
Muffles College, a well-known and prestigious high school will be the main
institution partaking in a project in which plates will be made out of corn starch
using sustainable agriculture. This is a project that will see the participation and
effort of both students and teachers. The corn will be planted in Muffles College
compound in which the students will be the main ones assisting in the plantation
and overseeing of the corn and implementing the project thereafter. This will be a
positive influence to the students of Muffles; they will learn and be part of
agricultural activities thus teaching them to be more responsible and industrious
individuals in society. Students will spend more time being active in this project
instead of having nothing to do and only be using technologies. Also, they will
learn to maintain a sustainable and healthy environment which will be something
more than positive in Belizean society. The main purpose of this project is to
significantly decrease the use of Styrofoam which is very hazardous, since it will
take over a million years so that one single Styrofoam can be decomposed
completely. This is an excellent project that will be of great benefit to our society
because it will definitely lessen the amount of pollution in the environment.
References
http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/hortcult/greenhou/building.htm
http://www.agriculture.gov.tt/images/tips/How_to_Grow_Field_Corn%20.pdf
http://www.moongrow.com/vegetable_planting_guide/corn.html