US Department Of Defence Wants Someone To Invent Bullets That Are Biodegradable And Grow Plants

The US Department of Defence is calling out for proposals to manufacture biodegradable bullets that contain seeds for plant growth.

Motherboard reports the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) agency, a federally funded firm, is on the lookout for a new bullet design to use on US military training facilities. It isn't after just any regular bullet, though.

It's seeking out a biodegradable bullet that contains seeds for plant germination.

According to the report, the US Army currently manufactures and consumes “hundreds of thousands” of rounds of ammunition at its training grounds around the world.

The types of ammunition used range from small caliber bullets to “40 mm grenades, 60mm, 81mm, and 120mm mortars… 20mm tank rounds; and 155mm artillery rounds”.

Usually, these rounds are just left on the ground after being used. There hasn’t been an efficient way of recovering them so far, despite being super non-eco-friendly. The current ammo design means each round can take “hundreds of years or more” to degrade, and casing could pollute water supplies or be discovered by animals.

Bamboo fiber has been proposed as a biodegradable design solution to the current sustainability dilemma. Just to take things to the next level (why not go all out, right?) the Department of Defence want there to be seeds inside the bullets.

The vision is to create a bullet with special seeds embedded inside the casing, which would be engineered such that they would not germinate until after being in the ground for several months. Once the plant grows, it’ll consume the biodegradable bullets. Ergo, the plants will be safe for animal consumption.

It’s like a little cycle of life. Or maybe, a delicate balancing act between destruction and regeneration?

Anyway, the proposal callout has a due date of February 8, so time is ticking.

Photo: iStock