By Blake Jackson
Cornell University’s Mann Library recently celebrated the opening of “Hello, Human! The Emerging Science of Plant Communication and Smart Agriculture,” an exhibition designed to highlight how plants send signals and how new technologies are enabling people to interpret and act on those messages to support healthier, more resilient crops.
Created through a collaboration between the Center for Research on Programmable Plant Systems (CROPPS) and Cornell University Library, the exhibition features research from CROPPS teams at Cornell and partner institutions, including the Boyce Thompson Institute, Colorado State University, Tuskegee University, the University of Arizona, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
“This is the mission of the CROPPS Center using technological innovation to program plants, allowing us to hear from plants and to talk back to them to improve our interactions with plants and agriculture,” said Marjolein van der Meulen, associate vice provost for Cornell Research & Innovation. She noted that the work extends well beyond plant science.
“When you browse this exhibit and see the demonstrations, you'll understand that this research into programmable plant systems touches biology and agriculture as might be expected, but it also intersects with engineering, computer science, and other fields.”
Guests explored hands-on demonstrations illustrating how CROPPS researchers develop tools to monitor plant needs and conditions. Displays featured color-changing “living sensor” tomatoes that reveal nutrient deficiencies, interactive devices that transmit and receive plant signals, and aerial imaging technologies designed to track plant health in real field environments. Together, these exhibits offered a close look at how programmable plant systems are shaping more sustainable farming practices.
“For the past five years, we have been working together on a shared vision to tap into the living communication of the plant world with the goal of improving agricultural sustainability through enhanced resource management and program resilience.” Margaret Frank, co-principal investigator at CROPPS said, “To me personally, this exhibit represents a tremendous milestone.”
“At CROPPS, we focus on communication, between people and plants and people and people. We invest in engagements like this to inform the public stakeholders and be informed by them,” said Abraham Stroock, principal investigator and director at CROOPS.
“Translating the complex work of programmable plant systems into tangible experiences invites audiences to see firsthand how biology, technology and society intersect, inspiring learners and underscoring our commitment to a more sustainable, inclusive agricultural future.”
Photo Credit: cornell-university
Categories: New York, Crops, Education