The spy in the soil

US Military bosses developing smart plants to act as remote sensors

DARPA, the US military's arm responsible for developing new military technologies, is developing genetically modified plants that can detect threats and spy discreetly. The programme aims to engineer plants to detect certain chemicals, pathogens, radiation, and even electromagnetic and nuclear signals, and use existing hardware such as satellites to monitor these plants.

The smart plants could have applications outside of the military too - for example to help communities identify undetonated landmines from previous conflicts and testing areas.

DARPA's Advanced Plant Technologies (APT) programme is looking to harness plants' natural ability for sensing and responding to environmental stimuli, such as light levels and air pollution, and extend them with genetic modification.

According to DARPA, the military's traditional sensors are not always optimal for certain tasks, which is one of the reasons plants are at the focus of its new project. The programme will also reduce risks posed to soldiers, and reduce costs associated with traditional sensors.

The APT programme plans to modify the genomes of plants in order to programme in specific types of sensing to trigger discreet responses in the presence of certain stimuli - all while not having a negative impact on the plants' ability to thrive.

DARPA is holding a Proposers Day for APT on December 12, 2017, in Arlington, Virginia to allow researchers to suggest ideas for which plants, stimuli and modifications should be researched. Work on the programme will start in contained laboratories and greenhouses, and simulated natural environments.

DARPA says it will follow all federal regulations, as well as have oversight from institutional biosafety committees. And if this research is successful, field trials will be monitored by the US Department of Agriculture's Animals and Plant Health Inspection Service.