What it does
PlantPoxy is a sustainable agricultural product using fungi with pest control properties. The fungi are in a culture media in the form of glue. It can be applied by coating seeds or stems. to reduce the use of chemicals and environmental pollution.
Your inspiration
In the current era, where we face increasing pollution from chemicals and industrial waste. Pollution from non-biodegradable materials and chemicals poses severe threats to human health and the environment, ecosystem destruction and health issues from toxins. Our focus is on developing a sustainable adhesive using potato dextrose and beneficial fungi. This approach not only reduces reliance on harmful chemicals but also mitigates long-term pollution impacts. Potato dextrose is a natural, biodegradable, and non-toxic material that helps decrease landfill waste and contamination of soil and water.
How it works
Our adhesive uses Potato dextrose as a nutrient-rich base, promoting the growth of beneficial fungi like Beauveria and Metarhizium. These fungi naturally control pests by infecting and killing insects. The usage is pressing the bottle to dispense the adhesive through a tube, then using glue spreader to apply it to the desired areas of the plants. This method avoids direct contact with the glue and fungi. Upon application, the adhesive bonds strongly to surfaces and, when exposed to moisture and suitable temperatures, the fungal spores activate, grow, and spread. These spores attach to plants and surfaces, creating a protective barrier. As spores contact insects, they infect and kill the pests. This method reduces the need for chemical pesticides. Over time, the adhesive biodegrades naturally, leaving no harmful residues and minimizing environmental impact.
Design process
Because we are aware of the problems with the effects of pesticides that cause pollution. There are also materials that are not naturally biodegradable. That’s why we’ve come up with products that can control pests that are environmentally friendly and accessible to people. We began by developing a new type of pest control product that is not yet available on the market. This product is environmentally friendly, leaves no residues, and is biodegradable. Based on the research of Chiang Mai University, Potato Dextrose, we created a fungal food analog using potato dextrose in the form of an adhesive. This adhesive can be applied to seeds or plant stems to protect against pests through the specific capabilities of fungal spores. We then conducted experiments to culture the fungi in the adhesive medium to test spore production efficiency and fungal survival. We selected environmentally friendly materials that support the adhesive's stability. We have developed multiple prototype stages to create a practical design with features that enhance convenience and increase safety for users. Starting with a small size without additional components, we made it to a larger size by adding a tube for increased suction and a glue spreader for safe use.
How it is different
Our adhesive is formulated using Potato dextrose, a renewable and eco-friendly material, as opposed to the petrochemical-based components of most traditional adhesives. This makes our product a more sustainable option. Additionally,It not only serves as an adhesive but also incorporates beneficial fungi that contribute to the breakdown of the adhesive after use, unlike conventional adhesives that persist and contribute to environmental waste. And we attend to make Minimal Chemical Footprint by avoiding the use of harsh solvents and toxic additives common in conventional adhesives, making our product safer for both users and the environment.
Future plans
In this project, we have studied the benefits of only two types of fungi in agriculture. We believe that in the future, we can further explore other fungi to develop them into adhesives or other accessible and convenient forms for users. This will elevate the use of bio-fertilizers to be on par with chemical fertilizers in terms of efficiency. In terms of design, our team aims to develop the adhesive into forms like scotch tape or to design glue bottles to be compact and made from natural materials, making them easier to use.
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