Speaking plants - Kathy Steppe
From high-tech production systems to daily bio-weather reports.
In 2050, plants will communicate with us. Communication will be established via interactive apps, augmented reality and holographic applications.
The idea behind this virtual plant-based technology is to obtain accurate information at all times and in 3D on the growth, development and health status of the plant.
Applications will run on data from plant sensors, continuously monitoring vital plant functions.
A deviation from the optimal or desired condition, is interactively reported, and automatically corrected and optimized (if desired and when possible).
Define optimal growth conditions
In 2050, virtual plant-based technology will be widely applied in different sectors and domains.
Speaking plant concepts will dominate in innovative production systems to define optimal growth conditions based on real-time plant information and functioning, and to steer the quality of the end product.
Sustainable production
It is clear that such plant-based approaches have huge potential for applications here on Earth, but also in space, and will support sustainable production through optimal use of resources.
Weather reports with bio-touch
Applied on trees in forests and cities, managers will be assisted with unique quantitative information, and daily weather reports in 2050 will get an additional bio-touch.
Trees and plants equipped with plant sensors will indeed serve as bio-indicator via this virtual 3D-technology and will report on a daily basis about the impact of changes in climate on plant functioning.
Also, at home, plants will benefit from this technology, as they will no longer suffer from stress, inform us in real-time on how they feel, and how much oxygen they release into the atmosphere.
Speaking plants: obvious in 2050
One can wonder whether there will be a retrospect in 2050 on applied plant ecophysiology, the research that investigates the dynamic water and carbon interactions between crops/trees and their environment.
Will the Department of Plants and Crops (BW21) of the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering be seen as the origin of advanced ‘speaking plant’ technology?
At least it is the ambition to keep working – where possible as pioneers – on the development of sophisticated plant sensors and advanced plant models with the ultimate goal to initiate a series of new and novel applications… applications that are taken for granted in 2050?