The presence of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere is an issue that has been raised since the boom of the first industrial revolution and has been increasing over the years, having associated consequences such as global warming.

To orient ourselves a little about this man-made pollution, we must know that at the beginning of the current century, global emissions were approximately 23.000 million metric tons, but in 2019 they had already reached a record of 36.700 million.

What role does agriculture play in all this?

According to what is established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), each year agricultural activities, in addition to using 70% of fresh water, are responsible for up to 30% of global emissions of greenhouse gases, including CO₂.

Undoubtedly, the figures are worrying enough to consider taking the necessary measures, although it is also true that we cannot completely do without agriculture, taking into account the growing demand for food derived from the demographic expansion of the population.

That is why innovations and the development of technologies focused on producing more with less have become a indispensable necessity to meet current and future challenges in the sector. Among these novelties, we can highlight the innovative system to capture and take advantage of CO₂, developed jointly by the companies Projar, Aimplas, the Materials Technology Institute of the UPV and the Cajamar Foundation.

What is the project about?

With the aim of collaborating in "atmospheric cleaning" and capturing excess carbon dioxide (CO₂) in an efficient and viable way, the project aims to create a novel system that will be installed in public infrastructures with a large concentration of population, such as airports, stations, shopping or educational centers, among others.

The developed technology will use the "collected" gas to favor the hydroponic crop growth. To expand the information a little more in this regard, we must bear in mind that at a productive level and in controlled environments such as greenhouses, CO₂ is applied in large quantities, which increases the rate of photosynthesis and therefore the production of plants. The idea is to carry out the same procedure, but instead of "burning hydrocarbons" to obtain them, the CO₂ already present in the environment will be captured.

The proposal proposes installing plant structures in any urban environment, such as roofs, interior gardens, plant partitions, decorative elements, etc., thus enhancing their natural capacity to capture carbon dioxide, through the development of hydroponic substrates as multifunctional materials that absorb carbon. high efficiency.

Conclusions

Without a doubt, the global transition towards a sustainable and carbon-free agriculture is in process, however, the role of science, technology and innovation is crucial to mitigate the effects of climate change and go from having a agriculture with a negative impact on greenhouse gas emissions, to a global agricultural sector that incorporates sustainable and sustainable practices, while becoming an ally in curbing rising temperatures.