Teens Invent Device To Combat Crop Failure

In a groundbreaking innovation, a team of five high school students from Türkiye, known as Team Ceres, has developed a device called Plantzma. This plasma-powered invention aims to combat the devastating effects of drought on crops, providing a scalable solution to both local and global food scarcity challenges.¹ The team members—Diyar, Adar, Dilvin, Mir Baran, and Beyza—were driven by personal experiences with drought and crop failures in their region.

The Motivation Behind Plantzma

The inspiration for Plantzma came from witnessing the severe impact of drought in their region, which has experienced a 40% decline in precipitation rates, resulting in an 80% crop failure, loss and subsequent food shortages. Beyza, one of the team members, stated, “My community is my inspiration”.² This personal connection to the crisis propelled them to find a solution that could help their community and others facing similar challenges.

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Understanding the Problem

The issue of crop failures is not limited to Türkiye. According to the World Economic Forum, global crop failures are expected to rise significantly, potentially becoming 4.5 times higher by 2030 and 25 times higher by 2050. This alarming prediction underscores the urgent need for innovative solutions to ensure food security.

How Plantzma Works

Plantzma leverages low-temperature plasma technology to enhance crop resilience and improve irrigation water. The device functions in two primary ways:

1. Direct Seed Treatment: By exposing seeds to plasma before cultivation, the device creates microscopic cracks in their outer coatings. This process enhances germination rates, growth potential, and resistance to diseases and environmental stressors. Diyar explained, “In the direct treatment, we treat the seeds in a container with plasma before cultivation…and this increases the resistance to diseases, drought, and other environmental stressors, directly combatting crop failure”.
2. Irrigation Water Treatment: Plantzma treats irrigation water with plasma, enriching it with nitrogen to create an environmentally friendly fertilizer. This plasma-treated water provides essential nutrients for plant growth, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and promoting sustainable agriculture practices.

The Technology Behind Plantzma

Plasma, often referred to as the fourth state of matter, is essentially supercharged ionized air. It consists of superheated particles that can easily conduct electricity. While rare on Earth, plasma is abundant in space and can be created using a gas, a discharge system with electrodes, and a voltage system.

The use of plasma technology in agriculture was inspired by Beyza’s interest in exoplanets and NASA’s research on plasma applications. “I was reading NASA’s articles so much, and NASA has so much work about plasma and its wide range of uses,” she said.

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Recognition and Impact

The Plantzma device, priced at approximately $190, is designed to be affordable and user-friendly, making it accessible to farmers in rural communities with limited access to modern technologies. This innovative solution has received significant recognition, including being named runners-up in The Earth Prize, a global environmental sustainability competition for students.

The impact of Plantzma extends beyond its technological innovation. By reducing the reliance on chemical fertilizers and lessening crop failure, it addresses key issues in sustainable agriculture. “Once we interviewed farmers, they were happy to hear about this product,” Beyza noted, highlighting the positive reception from the agricultural community.

Future Goals

The team is now focused on raising funds to scale their innovation and make it available globally. Diyar is pursuing a major in electrical engineering at NYU Abu Dhabi, while Beyza intends to major in environmental engineering and political science, aiming to further their contributions to sustainable solutions in agriculture.

Conclusion

The development of Plantzma by Team Ceres represents a significant step forward in combating crop failures and addressing food scarcity. This innovative plasma-powered device not only enhances crop resilience but also promotes sustainable agricultural practices. As the world faces increasing challenges due to climate change and environmental stressors, solutions like Plantzma offer hope for a more sustainable and secure future.

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