Smart Hydrogels for Sustainable Agriculture

The growing global population, coupled with increasing food demand and water scarcity, has intensified the need for advancements in modern agriculture. As an emerging class of materials featured by intensively tunable properties, smart hydrogels offer innovative solutions to challenges associated with conventional agricultural practices, such as excessive agrochemical and water use and inefficiencies that contribute to environmental degradation. Additionally, hydrogel-based sensors can monitor environmental conditions and crop health, enabling precise adjustments to optimize growth and resource use. By serving as platforms for the slow and controlled delivery of agrochemicals and smart sensors, hydrogel systems can enhance resource efficiency, reduce labor demands, and improve crop yields in an environmentally sustainable manner. This Perspective article summarizes recent advancements in hydrogel-based materials, highlights existing challenges, and proposes potential research directions, with a focus on developing advanced hydrogel systems to transform agricultural practices.