Bioengineers Propose Electro-Agriculture to Produce Food in the Dark and with 88% Less Land

Bioengineers from Washington University, the University of Delaware, and the University of California propose a new method called electro-agriculture (electro-ag) to boost the efficiency of photosynthesis with a solar-powered chemical reaction that efficiently converts carbon dioxide into acetate. The researchers say that adopting electro-ag could reduce US agricultural land usage by up to 88%.

Electro-ag uses renewable energy to convert carbon dioxide into acetate, which allows the heterotrophic growth of food crops. This method enables plants to receive energy directly from the acetate, making it more efficient than traditional photosynthesis. Through this process, electro-ag could achieve at least four-fold improvement in solar-to-food efficiency compared to traditional farming.

This transformative approach minimizes the use of land, which could free nearly half of the country's land for ecosystem restoration and natural carbon sequestration. Electro-ag could also operate in extreme environments, including deserts, cities, and even on Mars, where growing food is difficult. Researchers also say that electro-ag could also help avoid food price hikes and promote sustainable and equitable food systems.

For more information, read the article from Joule.