A portable, encapsulated microbial whole-cell biosensing system for the detection of bioavailable copper (II) in soil

•A sensing-reporting fluorescent protein based microbial whole cell biosensor (MWCB) for copper (II) ions was developed.•In combination with a portable imaging system, polyacrylate-alginate encapsulated biosensor (BSD8) beads were able to measure bioavailable copper in spiked soil samples.•Calibration curves using from ImageJ and a microtiter plate reader were generated and compared.•Biosensor beads were stable for over a month when stored at room temperature and at 4 °C and could maintain their fluorescence and ability to detect copper throughout that time period.