January 30, 2009

Agriculture, having gone through its own Green Revolution that increased yield and growing efficiency to unprecedented levels, still uses a massive amount of inputs to produce its abundant harvest. Oil-based fertilizers, gas-guzzling tractors, and vast irrigation needs- the very inputs that made the agricultural green revolution possible – are now being questioned. Dwindling resources, climate change, and security concerns are prompting a fundamental re-thinking of farming practices. Enter Zeba. Zeba is a product made by Absorbent Technologies Inc. Similar in function to the super absorbent polymers used in diapers, Zeba is a hydrogel that acts like a sponge below the soil. Sprinkle these cornstarch granules in your tomato plant bed, lawn, or till them in your farm when seeding and you get higher yielding, better quality vegetables all while using less water. According to their website, each granule holds 500 times its weight in water. This creates an “on-demand’ moisture and nutrient reservoir, thereby reducing the level of water, nutrients and inputs required while yielding a higher quality crop. Less water and less inputs means less energy expended in growing food for our burgeoning population. The Zeba web-site is very well done and has a ton of information. Take a look and spend a few minutes exploring. It’s very interesting and really quite promising.

Could the agricultural green revolution be meeting the second green revolution of environmental technology, conservation, and sustainability? Will agriculture finally become truly green?

2nd Green Revolution