Meet Wileidy Feliciano-Rivera, seventh-grader whose plantain mulch cut weeds 53%

 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. 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.