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Farmers grapple with the task of feeding a growing population amidst climate-induced strains on farmland, water, and energy resources. While embedded sensors present advantages over drones and satellites in precision agriculture by providing high-resolution subsoil data, the practical hurdles of deploying and maintaining numerous sensors across vast farmlands hinder widespread adoption. Retrieval and end-of-life processing of these wireless devices are particularly challenging, and conventional sensors contain hazardous materials that pollute deployment sites and impact long-term well-being. Although efforts have been made to develop biodegradable sensors, their limited capabilities have restricted practical deployment for outdoor applications, especially in remote areas where biodegradability is crucial. This preliminary work delves into the design of self-powered biodegradable sensors to enhance their range and functionality while reviewing existing research to identify opportunities for future advancement.

Read our workshop paper in EnvSys '24 and keep an eye out here for more updates!