A UK ag-tech firm, Bactery, is revolutionizing agricultural technology with their $25.00 bacteria batteries, designed to power sensing equipment directly from the soil. These innovative batteries harness bioelectrochemical processes in soil microbes, capturing electrons through an array of inexpensive electrodes. This sustainable energy source powers sensors and computers that monitor crucial soil parameters like moisture content, providing farmers with precise data to optimize crop yields. The concept is to install the batteries and forget about them, as they require no maintenance and continuously supply power, eliminating the need for recharging, fuel consumption, or solar panels.
Building on the soil microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) initially developed in 2019 for water filtration in Brazil, Bactery has refined the technology under the guidance of Dr. Jakub Dziegielowski. Over five years of research, they have enhanced the design to stimulate bacterial activity and maximize energy collection. As Dr. Dziegielowski explains, their improved understanding of bioelectrochemical processes has made this technology viable for agricultural use. Professor Mirella Di Lorenzo highlights that by creating these sensors “always-on, cheap, low-maintenance, and low-impact,” Bactery enables farmers to adopt data-driven, resource-efficient practices, transforming modern farming.
