Puerto Rico seventh-grader turns plantain peels into mulch, cutting weeds by up to 53%​on October 4, 2026 at 6:26 am

Wileidy Feliciano-Rivera, a seventh-grader from Puerto Rico, transformed discarded plantain peels into biodegradable mulch. This innovative project addressed plastic waste and showcased potential agricultural benefits. EcoMusa, the resultant mulch, effectively reduced weed growth during testing while retaining moisture and lowering soil temperatures. Wileidy’s work has garnered recognition as a finalist in the 2026 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge.