Researchers at the University of Glasgow and collaborators developed a hybrid agricultural monitoring system using biodegradable printed sensors and a reusable electronic module. The work forms part of the international TESLA project on sustainable electronics for digital agriculture.
The team screen-printed conductive and sensing materials onto a biodegradable substrate. Laboratory testing showed consistent pH monitoring in solutions from pH 3 to 8 over two weeks, and the sensors also detected ethephon. Conventional electronics collect and transmit measurements while the sensing patch can be replaced. Fully sustainable power components and broader sensing capabilities were project goals, rather than completed features of the demonstrated system.
