The Electric Plant startup developed Bombadil, an artificial intelligence model capable of interpreting electrical signals emitted by plants and identifying their needs. The technology uses sensors attached to stems to collect data on about 125 species, which are analyzed and can help growers adjust irrigation and fertilizer use.
According to the company, the sensors cost dozens of dollars, while traditional tools can cost thousands, and the system can increase agricultural productivity and reduce water consumption by 20% or more. The startup raised US$ 11.2 million in an initial investment round to bring the technology to market.
For those in a hurry:
- The Electric Plant startup developed Bombadil, an artificial intelligence model that interprets electrical signals emitted by plants to identify their needs;
- Sensors connected to the stems capture microvolt signals, which are analyzed by the model. The technology gathers data from about 125 species and can help growers adjust irrigation and fertilizer use;
- According to the company, the system can reduce water consumption by 20% or more. The startup raised US$ 11.2 million to bring the technology to market.
AI identifies the “language of plants”
Image: Vera da Cal/ShutterstockElectric Plant's technology is simple: a device similar to a USB flash drive, with an antenna and a height similar to a cell phone, is connected to the plant's stem. The idea is for the device to reach the cambium, the plant's secondary protective tissue, right behind the “bark” of the trunk or stem.
When connected to this plane, the device detects the microvolts emitted by the plant and collects the data that this emission provides. Then, Bombadil interprets this information and transmits it to another connected device.
“This is the most diverse model ever created for biological electrical signals. No one has ever done anything equivalent to this in the animal world,” said Justin Mast, co-founder and CEO of Electric Plant, in an interview with TechCrunch.
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Image: Tarcisio Schnaider/Shutterstock
According to the startup, this information can help farmers, caregivers, etc., identify what the plant needs. With greater precision about the care needed at any given time, it would be possible to save more water and achieve greater efficiency in production.
The innovation is part of a new approach to agriculture and more technological plant care. Recently, for example, John Deere developed its chatbot, the “JD,” which is based on data collected during the harvest itself.Facilitating more personalized work and once again benefiting from greater efficiency and the mitigation of environmental impacts.
