According to WWF, 70% of the planet’s freshwater is used for farming, and a lot of it goes to waste due to poor irrigation systems and bad application systems. Is a new product out of Canada the solution to the problem?
TerraGel Uses Water Retaining Gel to Feed Plants
This new invention makes gardening easier and more sustainable, but it can have massive applications. The new invention only needs to soak in water for a few minutes to become a reliable source of water. It is made of agricultural potassium acrylate. This substance is non-toxic, biodegradable and odorless. It doesn’t work by keeping the plant healthy exactly, but by keeping the soil fertile and hydrated.
The TerraGel granules can absorb water that is up to 300 times their weight. It becomes a clear gel that can absorb and release water for up to 5 years before the gel starts to break down. After that, it becomes a natural fertilizer. Since the substance is based on potassium, it does not harm plants. Other similar products use salt-based materials that can be harmful to plants.
TerraGel, WWF and Farming: The Solution to Wasteful Water?
The WWF is facing many issues regarding wasteful water. The farming industry can greatly benefit from inventions like TerraGel since it can solve many problems. It would help keep soil hydrated, provide crops with natural fertilizer that does not need tending, and give crops the appropriate amount of care.
The farming industry is quite layered and needs a lot of care, but TerraGel would take a lot from farmers’ backs. Since the substance is non-toxic it cannot harm cattle or nearby animals. The technology could be further advanced to last even longer and change the concept of irrigation.
Many Parts of the World Suffer Through Heavy Droughts
California has been suffering from major water shortage for a long time. Inventions like the TerraGel could help save water so that it can reach all regions, impoverished or not. A lot of municipalities in North America have started to regulate water use, and it’s only a matter of time before we hit the danger zone. And that’s just in the developed world.
This invention could also bring significant change to the developing world. All regions could use a cleaner way to help save water and avoid waste. The WWF should look to products like these as their solution to wasteful water in farming.
