Imagine a sponge made from wood waste that you mix into the dirt. It drinks up rain water quickly and holds onto it, letting plants sip slowly during dry spells. Instead of staying in the soil like plastic, it eventually turns into natural compost that feeds the earth.
Agriculture faces severe water scarcity and soil degradation, with 70% of fresh water used for irrigation. Existing synthetic hydrogels are expensive and non-biodegradable, leaving a gap for organic, cost-effective soil improvers.
A 100% lignin-based water absorbent hydrogel that stores water and nutrients and degrades into humus.
If you are a crop farm dealing with erratic rainfall and drought, this project developed a lignin-based hydrogel that reduces watering frequency by up to 40%. It helps plants survive dry periods by storing 10-15 times its weight in water in under 30 minutes.
If you are a nursery operator dealing with high fertilizer costs and water waste, this project developed a nutrient-trapping gel that enables controlled release of fertilizers. This reduces agricultural input costs and prevents environmental pollution.
If you are a restoration company dealing with non-productive or 100% sand soils, this project developed a soil improver that converts these areas into productive land. It mimics humus to increase soil organic matter and reverse desertification.
The product can reduce watering frequency by up to 40%, which directly lowers water usage and associated pumping or procurement costs.
Yes, the project title specifically focuses on 'International Scale-up' and utilizes under-utilized lignin from the Pulp & Paper industry as a raw material.
Based on available project data, the technology is developed by AgroBiogel GmbH, a spin-off from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna.
Unlike fossil-based hydrogels that are non-biodegradable, this organic hydrogel naturally degrades into humus, making it a compliant alternative for green environmental regulations.
The project period runs from 2022-07-01 to 2025-05-31, indicating the scale-up phase is currently active.
The project is led by a single SME, AgroBiogel GmbH, which is a university spin-off. With a 100% industry ratio and a focused single-partner structure, the project is streamlined for rapid commercial execution rather than academic research, leveraging a direct link to the Pulp & Paper industry for raw materials.
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