A plant as a CO2 biosensor could address various issues related to the use of fossil materials, rare minerals and climate change. A plant as a biosensor could tackle the problem of excessive use of heavy materials needed to create electrical sensors. In addition, these plants use sustainable biological materials instead of relying on natural resources that require intensive extraction and processing, reducing the need for expensive and potentially environmentally harmful materials.
Biosensor plants also have a sustainable lifecycle, as they are living organisms that can regenerate and sustain themselves for extended periods, unlike many electronic sensors with a limited lifespan that results in constant production of electronic waste. These plants are self-sufficient in terms of energy, as they perform photosynthesis to generate energy, eliminating the need for batteries or external electrical power sources that often contain heavy and toxic materials.
Plants as biosensors also offer an innovative and effective solution for environmental monitoring, as they can be real-time indicator of various environmental parameters, such as pollutant levels and changes in soil quality, enabling immediate detection of environmental events. Unlike traditional electronic sensors that require constant maintenance and replacement, plants are living organisms that can operate for extended periods without human intervention, ensuring continuous and uninterrupted monitoring. Moreover, they can be adapted to detect a variety of substances and conditions, from chemical pollutants to changes in humidity, making them versatile for monitoring different aspects of the environment.
They also offer a valuable solution for addressing air quality issues in several crucial ways. Firstly, these plants can be designed to detect and respond to various substances such as heavy metals, nitrates, pesticides, nitrogen dioxide, carbon dioxide, TNT, and hydrogen sulphide. Furthermore, these plants have the potential to raise public awareness about air quality and pollution-related issues because their visual responses to pollution can motivate communities to take measures to reduce pollution and improve air quality.
Moreover, the risk of transmitting pests and diseases is generally lower when transporting seeds, provided that appropriate quarantine practices are followed. The storage and transportation space required for seeds is considerably less than that needed for adult plants, facilitating handling in large quantities. Additionally, seed production is often more cost-effective than that of adult plants, reducing overall costs associated with transportation projects. Lastly, seed transportation facilitates the global distribution of crops and plants, as importing and exporting seeds internationally is much simpler compared to live plants.