Yara and Auja Participated in a Penn State FAO Learning Factory Collaboration

Auja worked with the Penn State FAO Learning Factory and PennTap to sponsor a Penn State College of Engineering Capstone Design Project. She worked with a team of undergraduate engineers to design a slow-release capsule designed to introduce beneficial bacteria into a hydroponic farming system. This biotechnology will help make microbial strategies more accessible to small- to middle-scale hydroponic farmers.

As part of the World Food Forum Youth Food Lab Innovation Scholar Program, Yara contributed to a student-led project and gave an invited presentation to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on April 29.

The project was later recognized with a Best Project - Third Place award at the Spring 2026 Learning Factory Showcase.