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Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Electric power from potatoes

Monday, February 28, 2011

Slices of freshly cooked potatoes can provide electricity for remote, off-grid communities, says a research team at the University of Jerusalem. A slice of potato can generate light for 20 hours, and several slices could power simple medical equipment, or even a low-powered computer.

The work was described last year in the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy and hinges on a recent discovery that electricity flows from membranes disrupted by boiling. Potato batteries are estimated to generate electricity at a cost of about US$9 per kilowatt hour, about the same cost as AA alkaline batteries. D cells generate electricity for about $50/kWh.

Expect to see another debate about "food or energy" to develop. The "antis" argue that these "food batteries" would be grown and used in areas of Africa where food may already be in short supply. Proponents, on the other hand, say many potatoes can't be moved to city markets in time to prevent them from rotting. BF
 

Current Issue

November 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

CLAAS Expands with New Ontario Dealership

Monday, November 3, 2025

CLAAS is expanding its reach across Canada with HJV’s new dealership in Winchester, Ontario. The regional dealer, already known for its strong service network, celebrated its grand opening on September 24, 2025, drawing more than 400 local farmers. The new Winchester dealership offers the... Read this article online

Check Grain Quality Fast with this Shaker Box

Friday, October 31, 2025

The Bushel Plus Grain Shaker Box is a quick and reliable tool for checking the quality of grain and detecting cracked kernels within seconds. Whether you’re inside the combine cab or working near the grain dryer, this portable device makes it easy to test grain samples on the spot.... Read this article online

CLAAS Expands with New Ontario Dealership

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

CLAAS is expanding its reach across Canada with HJV’s new dealership in Winchester, Ontario. The regional dealer, already known for its strong service network, celebrated its grand opening on September 24, 2025, drawing more than 400 local farmers. The new Winchester dealership offers... Read this article online

Updates to Case IH RB566 Round Baler

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

The Case IH RB566 round baler has been redesigned with a strong focus on serviceability, dependability, and efficiency, offering farmers a more advanced and reliable baling experience. According to Brian Williams, livestock product specialist with Case IH, the latest improvements... Read this article online

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