That's Life, I Swear

Trees Are Stressed Out, We Need To Talk With Them

• Rick Barron • Season 3 • Episode 140

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TreeTag sensors, developed by startup ePlant, can give homeowners, farmers and forestry managers early warning when trees are water stressed or in danger.

supporting links

1.     ePlant: How it Works [ePlant website]

2.     This ‘Fitbit’ for tree health [MarketWatch]

3.     Liquid Robotics [Website]

4.     Growing Crops with Less Groundwater [College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences]

5.     Sun World International [LinkedIn]


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⏱️ 11 min read

We’re all getting stressed out over the climate change development around the world. Some of us don’t and think it’s nothing but a hoax. Perhaps we show take it from a different point of view. Like asking a tree what it thinks about climate change. You heard me, talking to a tree.

Welcome to That's Life, I Swear.  This podcast is about life's happenings in this world that conjure up such words as intriguing, frightening, life-changing, inspiring, and more. I'm Rick Barron your host. 

That said, here's the rest of this story 

In an era where environmental consciousness is paramount, the precarious state of trees has taken center stage. Addressing this concern head on is a new startup called ePlant.

So, what makes this new startup so unique? They have introduced TreeTag sensors, a revolutionary technology designed to provide early warnings regarding tree stress and potential hazards. 

This compact device, comparable in size to a small television remote, is equipped with a sophisticated array of sensors, a solar panel, and a wireless radio that transmits crucial data to users' phones via the cloud. 

Why does this matter you may ask.

The ambitious goal here is to establish an extensive "internet of trees" across various landscapes, from urban areas to orchards, vineyards, and climate-threatened forests. This initiative seeks to enhance our comprehension of how escalating temperatures impact these essential ecosystems.

The technological marvel of TreeTag sensors—such as temperature, humidity, and movement sensors—are not groundbreaking perse, but rather the innovative leap lies in ePlant's ability to integrate them into a compact and cost-effective gadget. 

Think of it as a forestry Fitbit. TreeTags offer early warnings to homeowners, farmers, and forestry managers, signaling when trees are on the verge of water stress or potential toppling. This data, in turn, enables more precise management of scarce resources, such as water for irrigation.

Graham Hine, co-founder and CEO of ePlant, articulates the urgency of the situation, emphasizing, "The trees in our world are in trouble. They are essential for the climate and essential for us and the planet, so we wanted to build a technology that was capable of monitoring them at scale." Drawing on his experience as the former CEO of Liquid Robotics, a Silicon Valley-based company specializing in ocean-going robots, Hine brings a wealth of knowledge to the development of TreeTag sensors.

Hine, the former Chief Executive Officer of Liquid Robotics, a Silicon Valley company specializing in the production of sensor-equipped oceanic robots, led the company until its acquisition by Boeing in 2016 for a sum of $300 million.

Let’s talk about the innovative integration and potential of ePlant’s product.

The incorporation of sensors like dendrometers, which measure the subtle swelling and shrinking of tree trunks as they absorb water at night and release it through leaves during the course of day, is not a new concept. However, ePlant has distinguished itself by merging these sensors into a singular, economical device. 

This approach provides invaluable early warnings to various stakeholders about the water status and stability of trees. For instance, growers can use this data to optimize the allocation of scarce water supplies for more effective irrigation.

In today’s world, armed with this data at your finger tips is both timely and the difference between survival of trees or their demise. 

As TreeTags progress through their rollout phase with commercial clients, the startup charges an annual fee of $50 per tag, inclusive of all generated data. The introduction of residential TreeTags is on the horizon, with an anticipated cost of $249 per unit. This includes a year's access to the data, after which a nominal monthly fee of $1.99 applies. 

The affordability and durability of this technology empower users to instrument dozens or even hundreds of trees, offering a more comprehensive understanding compared to pricier alternatives. It’s a no brainer.

Professor Patrick Brown, a faculty member in the plant sciences department at the University of California, Davis, says, "It provides an opportunity to assess a significantly greater range of variability compared to more costly alternatives." 

They say the proof is in the pudding

A tangible demonstration of TreeTag's real-world impact unfolded at Westwind Farms, a 160-acre almond orchard west of Sacramento, California. Here, ePlant's crew installed TreeTag sensors on 200 almond trees, marking a pivotal moment in the farm's transformation into a sustainability laboratory. 

Since acquiring the property in 2013 and planting 29,000 almond trees, owner Kirk Pumphrey has collaborated with UC Davis scientists, including Professor Patrick Brown, to enhance water conservation and optimize tree output.

Here's something to think about. Almonds—perhaps California’s most morally divisive crop, calls out that a single nut needing 1 to 3 gallons of water to grow. That is a lot of water!

Initiatives range from deploying sensors for targeted irrigation to spreading almond hull mulch to minimize evaporation. Pumphrey attests to the success of these efforts, citing a 4% reduction in Westwind's water use during California's recent record drought. With TreeTags, Pumphrey envisions further water savings by gaining insights into the efficient use of fertilizers and tailoring irrigation to specific tree varieties.

Another case study revolves around Sun World International, a Bakersfield-based company specializing in fruit varieties.

There they integrated 200 TreeTags into its climate resilience breeding program. Taylor Crow, the lead for biostatistics and quantitative genetics, underscores the enthusiasm surrounding the plant-specific readings offered by TreeTags. The device's ability to provide clear signals of 
over-irrigation provides invaluable information, addressing a prevalent issue more effectively than under-irrigation. 

The data generated aids in determining the water needs of different genetic varieties of table grapes and stone fruits, while also serving as a real-time weather station for better management decisions.

There’s a global reach and ambitious projects happening that show great promise.

Beyond the borders of the United States, ePlant is expanding its influence with TreeTags in the Middle East. In Saudi Arabia, a country committed to planting 10 billion trees, ePlant will deploy TreeTags to refine water usage and ensure the survival of these vital green assets. While confidentiality agreements prevent Hine from disclosing the client's identity, he emphasizes the critical role of instrumentation in refining water usage in very dry environments.

In Lahaina, Hawaii, a region recently devastated by wildfires, TreeTags are attached to a giant banyan tree, providing insights into its recovery. Despite the absence of leaves, the TreeTags respond to humidity and showcase growth in different areas. This application highlights the adaptability of TreeTags in monitoring post-disaster recovery, offering a unique perspective on the resilience of trees in the face of environmental challenges.

Potential for Ecological Research and Conservation

TreeTags are not confined to commercial and agricultural applications; they also hold promise for ecological research. Rosemary Sherriff, a professor at Cal Poly Humboldt specializing in Western forests, envisions the potential of TreeTags in monitoring real-time climate impacts on ecologically significant trees like redwoods and conifers. 

The device's ability to collect local weather data alongside tree-response data aligns seamlessly with the goals of ecological research. However, Sherriff notes a potential limitation concerning TreeTags' ability to transmit data effectively in remote and rugged terrain, a challenge that underscores the need for ongoing innovation and adaptability.

AI Integration and Conversations with Trees

The culmination of ePlant's vision includes the incorporation of artificial intelligence into residential TreeTags. The ChatGPT program is set to enable direct communication between trees and their owners, transcending the realm of data-driven insights to foster a deeper understanding of trees' well-being. In regions like the San Francisco Bay Area, where Australian natives abound and are prone to unpredictable falls, this advancement takes on particular significance, potentially mitigating risks and safeguarding lives.

The advent of TreeTag sensors by ePlant represents a paradigm shift in our ability to monitor and comprehend the well-being of trees on a large scale. In an era where climate change poses an existential threat to ecosystems, this technology emerges as a practical and cost-effective solution for early detection and intervention. From almond orchards in California to ambitious tree-planting projects in Saudi Arabia, TreeTags are proving to be a valuable tool for sustainable agriculture, forestry management, and ecological research. 

What can we learn from this story? What's the takeaway?

As ePlant continues to refine this technology, the integration of artificial intelligence holds the potential to transform our relationship with the natural world, giving a voice to the silent giants that populate our planet. The language of trees, once deciphered through technologies like TreeTags, may hold the key to a more harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature.

Well, there you go, my friends; that's life, I swear

For further information regarding the material covered in this episode, I invite you to visit my website, which you can find on either Apple Podcasts/iTunes, for show notes calling out key pieces of content mentioned and the episode transcript.

As always, I thank you for listening and your interest. 

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