In a groundbreaking study published in the journal Joule, bioengineers have proposed a revolutionary new approach to food production called "electro-agriculture." This innovative method aims to significantly improve the efficiency and sustainability of agriculture by replacing traditional photosynthesis with a more efficient solar-powered process. “If we don't need to grow plants with sunlight anymore, then we can decouple agriculture from the environment and grow food in indoor, controlled environments,” says corresponding author and biological engineer Robert Jinkerson of University of California, Riverside. “I think that we need to move agriculture into the next phase of technology, and producing it in a controlled way that is decoupled from nature has to be the next step.”

Details of the Study

Electro-agriculture uses solar energy to power a chemical reaction that converts carbon dioxide (CO2) and water into acetate, which plants can use as a food source. This process is significantly more efficient than photosynthesis, with the potential to convert up to 4% of absorbed energy into usable energy, compared to the 1% efficiency of photosynthesis.

To harness this potential, researchers genetically engineer plants to utilize acetate as their primary energy source. This would allow for the cultivation of crops in controlled indoor environments, independent of sunlight and weather conditions. By growing crops vertically in multi-story structures, this approach could dramatically reduce the land area required for agriculture, potentially decreasing land use by up to 94%.

Electro-agriculture holds the promise of revolutionizing the way we produce food. By improving efficiency, reducing environmental impact, and enabling food production in challenging conditions, this technology could play a crucial role in addressing global food security challenges and mitigating the effects of climate change. While significant research and development are still needed to fully realize the potential of electro-agriculture, the initial findings are incredibly promising.