(ORDO NEWS) — Researchers at the University of California, Riverside and the University of Delaware said they have found a way to get plants to grow in total darkness.
The press release states that a two-step process was used to convert carbon dioxide, electricity and water into acetate. Plants consumed acetate as food and could grow in the dark.
The authors of the study, published in the journal Nature Food , are confident that when combined with solar panels to generate electricity, this method of producing plant-based foods will be more than 18 times more efficient than a natural process (photosynthesis), which is said to use only one percent of solar energy. light .
“Through our approach, we sought to define a new way of producing food that could overcome the limitations typically imposed by biological photosynthesis,” said study co-author Robert Ginkerson.
Plants and food
The press photo (above) shows luscious green shoots that make it clear that the innovative technology is working. But for now, there is no guarantee that the new method will actually produce a sustainable crop suitable for human consumption.
Nevertheless, this technology is impressive and, we hope, that over time it will be put more and more effective. After all, increasing the number of sustainable ways to grow food can help fight hunger.
—
Online:
Contact us: [email protected]
Our Standards, Terms of Use: Standard Terms And Conditions.