By 2050, the global population is projected to hit 10 billion. Agriculture must ramp up production of plants for food, like maize, as well as for fibers, like cotton. This has to happen in the face of increased temperatures, longer droughts, and more erratic weather patterns that make production increasingly reliant on irrigation and nitrogen-based fertilizers. These resources not only drive up production costs but also have significant environmental impacts. If crops could communicate when and where they needed water or nutrients, it could revolutionize efficiency, cut costs for farmers, and reduce environmental harm.

But, plants can't tell us what they need, right? Maybe they can!

The Center for Research on Programmable Plant Systems (CROPPS) uses interdisciplinary and collaborative research to develop Programmable Plant Systems, enabling two-way communication between plants and humans and pioneering innovative technologies to make agriculture more efficient, sustainable, and responsive.

Come learn more about the work of CROPPS and the frontier of human-plant communications in Hello, Human! The Emerging Science of Plant Communication and Smart Agriculture, on display in Mann Gallery (2nd floor) during all hours the library is open. 

Hello, Human! is part of a series of exhibits titled From the Brink: Contributions to a Sustainable Future from across Cornell, hosted by different libraries across Cornell University Library in close partnership with other departments and groups on campus.

From the Brink showcases collections, research support, and collaborative efforts across Cornell and illuminates ways of addressing issues of critical, global importance. This series of exhibits aims to stimulate conversations about the threat of environmental and cultural loss and its implications, while also offering insights about positive developments and constructive steps toward a healthier future for our planet and our communities.