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An Engineer Created an Innovative Material That Transforms Rainwater Into Gel and Promises to Revolutionize Agriculture in Arid Regions. The Technology Is Already Being Used in Several Countries and Can Drastically Reduce Water Consumption in the Field.
A Mexican engineer developed a solution capable of revolutionizing agriculture in regions with water scarcity.
It is a biodegradable polymer that encapsulates rainwater and can reduce agricultural irrigation by up to 90%.
How the Technology Works
The inventor is Sergio Jesus Rico Velasco, an engineer from the National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico. He created a potassium acrylate-based polymer, sold in powder form.
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When it comes into contact with rainwater, the material transforms into a gel that retains moisture in the soil for up to 40 days.
The product is buried at the root level of plants. When it rains, the polymer absorbs the water and transforms it into a kind of solid.
The plant consumes this water gradually, as needed. When the gel dries, it returns to powder form, ready to absorb the next rain.
Practical Benefits for the Field
According to Sergio Rico, ten grams of the polymer can absorb up to one liter of water. Additionally, the material can retain up to 200 times its own weight in water and remains active for up to eight years.
With just 25 kg of the product per hectare, it is possible to save up to 80% on production costs. This also reduces the need to install irrigation systems, lowering expenses on water infrastructure.
International Expansion
The so-called “solid water” is already being used outside of Mexico. Countries like Argentina, Ecuador, India, Russia, Peru, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates have adopted the technology for their crops.
Sergio Rico’s innovation shows how a simple solution can help tackle longstanding problems in the field.
The product continues to gain traction and promises to benefit farmers around the world, especially in areas affected by drought.
