Scientists Develop Artificial Photosynthesis Technique to Produce Food Efficiently Without Sunlight.
The biological photosynthesis process is actually very inefficient, with only about 1% of the energy from sunlight being converted into plant biomass. A team of scientists from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) and the University of Delaware has discovered a method to eliminate the need for biological photosynthesis, allowing food production without sunlight through artificial photosynthesis. The new research was published in the journal Nature Food on June 23.
Plants growing entirely in the dark with an acetate environment replacing biological photosynthesis. (Photo: Marcus Harland-Dunaway/UCR)
The research team utilized a two-step electrocatalytic process to convert CO2, electricity, and water into acetate—the main component of vinegar. They then allowed the plants to consume acetate in the dark for growth. This new method could be a valuable solution for food production in the face of the climate crisis.
Experts emphasize that their method does not require sunlight. However, they can combine this method with solar panels to generate the necessary electricity to power the electrolysis process.
This could potentially increase the efficiency of converting sunlight into food by up to 18 times compared to certain types of food. Thus, the new method can utilize sunlight but does not depend solely on solar energy, allowing for the use of other forms of electricity generation.
During the research process, the scientists discovered various types of food that could be grown in the dark using the new method, such as green algae, yeast, and mycelium. Growing yeast in this manner is 18 times more energy-efficient than the conventional method of extracting sugar from corn.
The researchers also optimized the electrolyzer to produce the highest levels of acetate ever recorded. Additionally, they found that some crops, including green beans, tomatoes, rice, green peas, and tobacco, have the potential to grow in the dark by utilizing carbon from acetate. There is even a possibility that acetate could enhance crop yields, but this still requires further investigation.
By reducing dependence on direct sunlight, artificial photosynthesis could serve as an important alternative for food cultivation in the coming years, especially as the world faces severe impacts from climate change such as droughts, floods, and decreasing arable land, according to the research team.
“Using artificial photosynthesis to produce food could be a significant shift in how we supply food for humanity. By increasing production efficiency, we will require less land, thereby reducing the environmental impact of agriculture. With agriculture in non-traditional environments, such as space, increased energy efficiency will help feed more astronauts,” explained Robert Jinkerson, a member of the research team and an associate professor at the University of California, Riverside.
