Humans have been manipulating the DNA of the organisms around us in agriculture for thousands of years, using selective breeding to create sweeter fruit, hardier grains, cows that produce more milk, and many more valuable traits.

A recent article by IDTechEx Principal Analyst, James Hayward, written on the need to update e-textiles' traditional mantra which implies that "technology + comfort = success".

2019 saw the largest single year growth rate for wearable technology product revenue since 2015

In this webinar, IDTechEx Senior Technology Analyst Dr Nadia Tsao will review the branches of digital health and provide updates on how they have been affected by COVID-19.

In this webinar IDTechEx Chairman, Dr Peter Harrop, describes a large new opportunity for added value materials suppliers. Electronics and electrics are moving from components-in-a-box to user "edit-able" composites, stretchable film and even paint.

Asked to picture a printed sensor, you might well imagine a paper test strip for measuring blood glucose concentration. After all, such test strips comprise the majority of the printed sensor market, with billions used each year by diabetics around the world. However, this ubiquitous application masks a highly complex, fragmented and in some cases rapidly growing market that spans applications ranging from image sensing to wearable electrodes.

3D bioprinting provides scientists with the unique ability to create artificial tissue that closely resembles native tissue in form and function. A method of tissue engineering, 3D bioprinting is the precise deposition of cells, typically layer-by-layer, to realize a final 3D construct. Over the years, 3D bioprinting has seen increased adoption as a research tool and as a method for tissue engineering in regenerative medicine.

In this webinar, IDTechEx Senior Technology Analyst Dr Nadia Tsao will cover: Megatrends driving skin analysis technologies, Key market segments for skin analysis technologies, How skin analysis technologies can help companies in and post-COVID, Outlook for the industry and market forecast to 2030, and much more.

Recently the versatility of mixed and augmented reality products has come to the forefront of the news, with an Imperial led project at the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Doctors have been wearing the Microsoft Hololens headsets whilst working on the front lines of the COVID pandemic, to aid them in their care for their patients.

Water and wastewater industries and networks are everywhere. They supply homes, businesses and industries. They are one of the most important infrastructures in many countries. Yet they are not monitored as closely as other utilities industries. However, change is coming. There are many new sensors and products available which can provide a greater insight into this large and wide-ranging industry.

Bioplastics, polymers derived from biological feedstocks, are a potential solution to the environmental problems caused by plastic - they are made from renewable resources and often biodegrade. Despite this, bioplastics have historically struggled to compete with fossil-based plastics, which are often far cheaper. But, are things beginning to change?

Expect more healthcare wearables that power themselves, many even managing with no battery. The IDTechEx report, "Energy Harvesting for Electronic Devices 2020-2040" covers this and more.

When some full-function, always-on smartwatches are able to self-charge, the others will look like the horse-drawn cart. When Internet of Things nodes are self-charging at the right size and price, the market for them will increase one thousand times.

Although the exact origin story of the COVID-19 outbreak is still uncertain, it is highly likely that the virus began as a zoonotic disease, i.e. an infectious disease caused by a pathogen that jumped from animals to humans.

Digital water technologies will innovate and drive forward new solutions in the water and wastewater industries. The new IDTechEx report, "Digital Water Networks 2020-2030", discusses the players, technologies, and market opportunities for this exciting new technology area.

While traditional electronic systems have an inherently rigid form factor, developments in manufacturing processes and materials are enabling a new world of flexible electronics. IDTechEx forecasts the market for healthcare products containing flexible electronics to be worth over $8.3 billion by the year 2030.

Given the considerable impact that CVD has on many people's lives, it is no surprise that the demand for solutions is exploding. IDTechEx Research found that the market for cardiovascular disease technology will exceed $40 billion by the year 2030.

The need for universal and massive testing across the population has led to a race for technology innovations for COVID-19 diagnostics.

IDTechEx will be hosting a free webinar on Thursday 7 May 2020. Where Is the Future of COVID-19 Diagnostics? will be presented by IDTechEx Technology Analyst, Dr Luyun Jiang.

By the time fresh produce reaches stores, it has often lost quality and freshness. It also risks contamination from passing through several middlemen along the way. Vertical farming could help overcome these problems in the tradition supply chain.