Yanbin Li
Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering,
Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas

Biosensing technology has been more broadly studied in chemistry, biology and engineering, and various biosensors are now being developed for applications to agriculture, food, environment, medicine and other areas. Biosensing technology is being advanced by its integration with biotechnology, microfabrication technology, nanotechnology and information technology. Biosensors have showed great potentials in modern agricultural information and equipment as a new sensing and transducing device. They will become a necessary component in the integrated network of agricultural information and equipment systems for on-line or in-real time sensing of biological and chemical targets in plants, animals, water and land. These targets may include bacteria and virus, pesticide and antibiotics, nutrients and fertilizers, toxins and metal ions, DNAs and RNAs, and more. This will also meet the needs for agricultural network of things to be able to directly sense the biological and chemical changes of crops, vegetables, fruits, poultry, swine, cattle, etc. in agricultural production. Currently, the challenge is how to promote biosesning technology from science centered research to engineering focused applications. Interdisciplinary team and systematic approach are critical in the development of a novel biosensor and the final application of such developed biosensor. Biosensing technology as part of agricultural information and equipment systems will make its contributions to the sustainable development of modern agriculture.