DARPA has earned a reputation for challenging the limits of technology and innovation, and their most recent program is a clear example of this.
Advanced Plant Technologies (APT) – HigherGov
The goal of the DARPA Advanced Plant Technologies (APT) program is to create the foundations for engineering plant varieties able to receive a variety of stimuli and produce measurable signals as output (“stimulus-response”).
What’s The Narrative?
DARPA’s Advanced Plant Technologies program aims to develop new technologies to allow plants to absorb more nutrients from the soil, produce more biomass, and resist environmental stresses. Additionally, the program seeks to genetically modify plants to detect various threats, such as chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and electromagnetic signals, and turn them into self-sustaining surveillance sensors. The program focuses on three main areas.
Bio-Sensors
The program develops bio-sensors that monitor plant health, nutrition, and water intake in real-time. This enables farmers to optimize inputs and minimize costs.
Genetic Engineering
Enhancing crop yields through genetic modification of plants, the program introduces new traits such as drought tolerance, disease resistance, and increased photosynthetic efficiency.
Plant-Microbe Interactions
The program studies plant-microbe interactions to develop new techniques that enhance nutrient uptake and improve plant productivity.
Proposals are being sought by APT from the scientific and technological community to modify plants genetically, enabling them to detect “chemical, biological, radiological, and/or nuclear threats, as well as electromagnetic signals.”
Great Potential With Great Concern
This technology has numerous applications, from identifying environmental hazards to ensuring national security, but there are concerns about ethical implications of genetically modifying plants. It will be interesting to see where this initiative progresses.
Despite the potential gains, it is essential to focus on several ethical issues related to this technology.
READ: Defying Nature: The Ethical Implications of Genetically Modified Plants
PRIVACY ISSUES
Utilizing genetically modified plants for surveillance may result in the collection of private information without individuals’ permission or knowledge, which may violate their right to privacy and provoke legal issues.
The potential for misuse is present, as the technology may be employed to observe specific individuals or communities for personal or political advantages. Moreover, the information acquired through surveillance may be leveraged to coerce or influence people.
Therefore, it is essential to closely monitor and regulate the development and use of such technology to mitigate any potential violations of privacy and human rights and to minimize environmental risks.
Prioritizing public engagement and transparency regarding the use and potential implications of genetically modified plants is also crucial to ensure accountability and ethical use of surveillance technology.
Environmental Concerns
Additionally, there are concerns about the impact that genetically modified crops may have on non-target organisms, such as beneficial insects or soil microbes. And, if pest populations evolve resistance to the genetically engineered crops, this could lead to increased pesticide use and environmental damage.
Genetic modification of plants may have long-term and unforeseen effects on the gene pool of organisms, disrupting the natural balance and diversity of ecosystems. This could cause irreversible damage to ecosystems and have negative impacts on human health.
Ethical Treatment Of Organisms
“Plants are highly attuned to their environments and naturally manifest physiological responses to basic stimuli such as light and temperature, but also in some cases to touch, chemicals, pests, and pathogens,” says Blake Bextine, Program Manager for APT. “Emerging molecular and modeling techniques may make it possible to reprogram these detection and reporting capabilities for a wide range of stimuli, which would not only open up new intelligence streams, but also reduce the personnel risks and costs associated with traditional sensors.”
The use of plants as surveillance sensors raises ethical questions about the treatment of living organisms. Although plants may not have the same level of sentience as animals, they are still living organisms with their own biological systems and responses. The use of plants as surveillance sensors could be considered exploitative and raises concerns about the ethical treatment of living organisms. Plants with modified genetic codes could have unforeseen ecological consequences if released into the environment, affecting other plant and animal species.
Role Of Science & Tech In Society
The use of genetically modified plants raises broader ethical questions about the role of science and technology in society. While innovation and progress are important, it is crucial to consider the potential consequences of new technologies and ensure that they are developed in ways that are consistent with ethical and moral values.
While the APT program has the potential to offer significant benefits, it raises important ethical questions that must be addressed. It is crucial to consider the potential impact of this technology on civil liberties, the environment, the welfare of plants, and broader ethical and moral values. Only by addressing these questions can we ensure that science and technology are used in ways that align with our values and aspirations as a society.
READ: Broad Agency Announcement Advanced Plant Technologies (APT) BIOLOGICAL …
