Can you envision it? Straw, typically destined for burning or disposal, is being transformed into biodegradable single-use plastics, bio-resins, and porous carbon materials for battery anodes through synthetic biology manufacturing. This isn't science fiction; it's the work being done by a scientist and his team in a laboratory in Changping District. Sang Tao, founder and chairman of Shanghai Hanhe Biological New Materials Technology Co., Ltd., founder of Beijing Changxiang Biological Technology Co., Ltd. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hanhe), a national top-tier talent program expert, and a researcher at the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is a scientist and an entrepreneur, starting from humble non-grain agricultural waste to carve out a new, more sustainable, and greener path in an era dependent on petroleum.

One Straw, Three Resources: Transforming Waste into Treasure

At Changxiang Bio, located within the Beijing Synthetic Biology Manufacturing Technology Innovation Center in Future Science City, young researchers are hard at work. Rows of test tubes in the lab contain selected microbial strains, which, after further cultivation and testing, are transferred to fermentation tanks for validation. In the hands of Sang Tao and his team, a single stalk of straw, once mere agricultural waste, can be deconstructed into three valuable products: the cellulose is broken down into glucose using cellulase, then fermented by engineered strains to produce lactic acid, which is polymerized into cellulose-based polylactic acid (PLA); the lignin can be processed into porous carbon and bio-resin. It is understood that compared to imported commercial enzymes, the cellulase produced by Sang Tao's team achieves a 10-15% higher sugar yield under the same conditions. The fermentation strains can simultaneously utilize both pentose and hexose sugars, exhibit strong toxin tolerance, and approach a 100% sugar-to-acid conversion rate. The final cellulose-based PLA product boasts excellent biodegradability and can be used to produce degradable single-use plastic items like agricultural mulch film, straws, and food containers. The porous carbon product exhibits conductivity >10 S/cm and structural strength of 50 MPa, already applied in scenarios like energy storage and power batteries. The bio-resin can replace traditional epoxy resins, finding use in high-end manufacturing fields such as 3C electronics and rail transportation.

"Currently, our thousand-ton plant is operational, a ten-thousand-ton plant is under construction, and this Changping facility is the most crucial site for engineering and originating our microbial strains," Sang Tao explained. In his plan, Changping plays an irreplaceable strategic role. "Research and development in Changping, manufacturing nationwide. There are billions of tons of straw across the country, and the main grain-producing regions are vast. We will build factories in these places, but the source is here in Changping."

From Scientist to Entrepreneur: Deep Expertise and Unwavering Persistence

The seeds for this "waste-to-wealth" story were planted long ago. In 1982, Sang Tao began studying botany at Fudan University, later pursued a Ph.D. in the US, and progressed from a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University to a professorship at Michigan State University. His research path was solid and smooth. However, a persistent challenge from the fields troubled him: while crops are vital, the massive agricultural waste post-harvest remained underutilized, and the environmental pollution from its burning was a pressing issue. Thus, in 2011, he returned to China, hoping to effectively utilize this non-grain agricultural waste. "We all have this drive, to contribute to the world, to humanity," he expressed.

However, even in Europe and America, the field was far from mature. From core technology to production equipment, almost every step required Sang Tao's team to forge their own path. "The difficulty was immense," Sang Tao admitted. "This is an 'original' industry—new products, new raw materials. The entire process, from technique and technology to equipment, we had to develop ourselves." Since starting R&D, Sang Tao has spent nearly every day solving problems, often facing failure. When asked what sustained him, his answer was simple: "The most crucial thing throughout the process is persistence, having unwavering confidence." Today, that persistence has found its strongest response in Changping.

From Years to Months: His Venture Accelerates in Changping

In January 2025, Hanhe Bio's wholly-owned subsidiary, Beijing Changxiang Biological Technology Co., Ltd., established itself in Changping. Sang Tao was resolute in this decision. "Changping is a hub for the national synthetic biology manufacturing industry. Beijing offers talent and research resources, and both the municipal and Changping district governments place great importance on this industry." Upon arriving in Changping, his impression was one of high efficiency. From initial contact to engagement with the Future Science City Administrative Committee and the Future Science City Group responsible for park operations took only 48 hours. Core details for establishment were settled within a week. With efficient coordination across departments, company registration procedures were completed in just one day. The laboratory was built from start to finish in only three months.

What most excited him was that technological breakthroughs also accelerated here. The core technology of Changxiang Bio involves using gene editing to create engineered strains. "We developed ten to twenty new strains at once. Under previous conditions, that might have taken one or two years; here, it was done in one or two months." Behind this efficiency, Sang Tao perceives Changping's comfortable research ecosystem. Proximity to key national research institutions ensures smooth information flow and a concentration of talent, making team assembly easier. Most importantly, the proactive service mindset of the Future Science City Group, its Administrative Committee, and relevant district departments has created a research sanctuary free from distractions. "There are no disruptions. Everyone's research efficiency here is very high. There aren't complicated application procedures; everything runs very smoothly."

From Thousand-Ton to Ten-Thousand-Ton Scale: Standing in Changping, Facing the Future

The R&D team consists mostly of young people. Speaking of them, the scientist's expression softens. "The working environment in Future Science City is excellent—convenient, quiet, and accessible. They also live nearby now, in talent apartments, so the pressure isn't high for young people, and life is quite rich." He observes their state, sees their high enthusiasm, and senses their comfort here. He is pleased to witness this picture of "living and working in peace and contentment."

For Sang Tao himself, the boundary between life and work has long blurred, but he has no regrets. "Solving these scientific, technical, and product problems is itself a source of achievement and enjoyment, very interesting." From Fudan student to overseas professor, from returning scientist to industrial pioneer, Sang Tao has spent twelve years leaving his mark on what is most difficult yet most right. This year is crucial for achieving ten-thousand-ton scale industrialization. "Once we achieve the ten-thousand-ton scale, this industry will essentially take shape." Looking ahead, he hopes to reach 50,000-ton and 100,000-ton scale industrialization, truly developing waste-based synthetic biology manufacturing into a future pillar industry for the nation. And in the laboratories of Changping, this "waste-to-wealth" story is steadily progressing towards a more complete chapter.