With the new system, farmers could significantly cut their use of pesticides and fertilizers, saving money and reducing runoff.
MIT engineers developed a technology that coats pesticide droplets, making them stick to plant leaves instead of bouncing off. This system could significantly reduce pesticide and fertilizer use, saving farmers money and decreasing environmental runoff. The coating can improve droplet adhesion by up to a hundredfold, and existing agricultural chemicals can also be used for this purpose. The technology allows for real-time monitoring of spraying and potentially reduces pesticide use substantially.
