The acrylamide free Superabsorbent Polymer for agriculture water footprint reduction

Project Information

Polygreen

Grant agreement ID: 832514

DOI

10.3030/832514

Project closed

EC signature date 28 November 2018

Start date 1 December 2018

End date 31 May 2019

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

NEST SRL
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Polygreen (The acrylamide free Superabsorbent Polymer for agriculture water footprint reduction)

Reporting period: 2018-12-01 to 2019-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

PolyGreen is a Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP) specifically designed to reduce water consumption in agriculture.
PolyGreen is a SAP for agriculture that does not contain acrylamide, which is a potentially carcinogenic material (Cancer Classification: Group B2 Probable Human Carcinogen) and will be soon banned from agriculture applications. The product is also biodegradable.

The emphasis on agricultural development in the present century has shifted to the sustainable use of land, water and plant resources in agriculture. The major goal of the current agriculture sector is to maximize land and water productivity without threatening the environment and the natural resources. Many nations have experienced considerable distress arising out of drought occurrences - mass starvation (even famines), cessation of economic activity particularly within the developing world where economies are inextricably and intrinsically tied to agriculture.

PolyGreen next steps will be the the strengthen of the already existing market agreements, thanks to a market analysis validation. The company will design the first prototypal plant and complete, on a later stage, the SAP manufacturing pilot plant building and commissioning. PolyGreen needs the European distribution network to be developed, while the dissemination and marketing strategy will be optimized.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The SME-Instrument Phase 1 PolyGreen Feasibility Study was focused on the following main activities:
1. Pilot plant design;
2. Validation and test strategy;
3. Stakeholder scouting and commercial agreements.

For these tasks the company has:
1. optimized the supply-chain, selecting suppliers and holding agreements at fixed supplying costs;
2. optimized the PolyGreen manufacturing process, reaching the production cost target, assessed the investment forecast, addressed the European Certifications required, defining procedures and costs, defined relevant use cases, planned the final validation tests.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

On average, 44% of total water abstraction in Europe is used for agriculture.

PolyGreen can be a leverage to achieve Sustainable Development Goals 3, 12 and 15 of United Nation’s plan to achieve better conditions for people and planet by 2030:
Sustainable Goal 3 - ENSURE HEALTHY LIVES AND PROMOTE WELL-BEING FOR ALL AT ALL AGES
Sustainable Goal 12 - ENSURE SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION
Sustainable Goal 15 - PROTECT, RESTORE AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE USE OF TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS

The application of this solution by Farming, Agriculture & Horticulture businesses will allow them to increase water holding capacity of soils, to reduce irrigation frequency and water and nutrient loss due to unwanted leaching. This while improving physical properties of compact soils through increased aeration and accelerating plant and crop growth. Thanks to PolyGreen, water and nutrients will continuously be available in the root zone: this feature would guarantee environmental protection against drought and groundwater pollution by controlling the release of fertilisers.

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