Printing technologies for monitoring crop health

D David Panáček V Vojtěch Kupka M Martin-Alex Nalepa I Ivan Dědek R Ruslan Álvarez-Diduk S Selin Olenik (Department of Bioengineering, Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London) J Jose Flauzino J Jan Zdražil P Petr Jakubec L Lukáš Zdražil L Lukáš Spíchal K Keval K. Sonigara R Radek Zbořil (Nanotechnology Centre, Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET), VŠB−Technical University of Ostrava, 17. listopadu 2172/15, Ostrava-Poruba 708 00, Czech Republic) M Martin Pumera (Future Energy and Innovation Laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 123, 61200 Brno, Czech Republic) A Arben Merkoçi J Joseph Wang (Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering) N Nuria De Diego F Firat Güder (Department of Bioengineering, Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London) M Michal Otyepka (Regional Center of Advanced Technologies and Materials, The Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN), Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, Olomouc 779 00, Czech Republic)

Abstract

Abstract Agricultural production requires low-cost sensors capable of delivering reliable, high-resolution data across large areas. Rising food demand, limited arable land, and severe soil degradation have accelerated the adoption of precision agriculture, which relies on real-time monitoring of soil, plant, and environmental conditions. Central to this shift is the development of scalable sensor technologies enabled by advances in materials science. Printing techniques, including inkjet, screen, aerosol jet, 3D printing, and direct laser writing, offer versatile routes to fabricate flexible, large-area, and plant-integrated sensors. This Review surveys recent progress in printable low-dimensional materials for agricultural sensing, examines their physicochemical properties in relation to sensor performance, and discusses key challenges and future opportunities requiring interdisciplinary integration.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 17, Issue 1
Published January 24, 2026
ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher Nature Portfolio

Journal Info

Nature Communications

Nature Portfolio

ISSN: 2041-1723 Open Access Life Sciences

Authors (19)

D

David Panáček

V

Vojtěch Kupka

M

Martin-Alex Nalepa

I

Ivan Dědek

R

Ruslan Álvarez-Diduk

S

Selin Olenik

Department of Bioengineering, Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London

J

Jose Flauzino

J

Jan Zdražil

P

Petr Jakubec

L

Lukáš Zdražil

L

Lukáš Spíchal

K

Keval K. Sonigara

R

Radek Zbořil

Nanotechnology Centre, Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies (CEET), VŠB−Technical University of Ostrava, 17. listopadu 2172/15, Ostrava-Poruba 708 00, Czech Republic

M

Martin Pumera

Future Energy and Innovation Laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 123, 61200 Brno, Czech Republic

A

Arben Merkoçi

J

Joseph Wang

Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering

N

Nuria De Diego

F

Firat Güder

Department of Bioengineering, Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London

M

Michal Otyepka

Regional Center of Advanced Technologies and Materials, The Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN), Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, Olomouc 779 00, Czech Republic