Can plants grow without sunlight? This question, which might have once seemed like the realm of science fiction, is now a challenge researchers are tackling through electro-agriculture. This innovative method could redefine how we grow plants, including crops, and offer solutions to some of the world’s biggest food security and environmental challenges.
Electro-agriculture is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the act of leveraging electricity to power plant growth, bypassing the need for traditional photosynthesis. At its core is a process called electrolysis, where carbon dioxide is converted into acetate, a type of salt that plants can use as a source of carbon.
Scientists have even engineered plants capable of thriving in total darkness, feeding off acetate instead of sunlight, making it possible to grow plants wit