Is foam the next big thing in water-saving tech?

Dutch company Aquaresins Technologies has been revolutionising the farming sector with its innovative use of foam technology.

Founded in 1984, Aquaresins Technologies manufacture a range of hard foam products, which are used for a range of purposes including industrial applications and cavity wall insulation. A subsidiary company called Resins Agro was launched in 2007, which utilises the hard foam technology in agriculture and landscaping.

“The unique cell structure of the company’s foam allows for a water/air retention ratio of 70/30, which promotes healthier plant root growth and reduces water consumption,” explains Hans Mol, CEO of the company.

The foam is used in soilless cultivation systems, such as hydroponics and aeroponics, where the foam serves as a growing medium providing a stable and consistent environment for the plants to grow in. One of the key benefits of this technology is its sustainability. By improving the efficiency of agricultural inputs, the foam can reduce the need for fertiliz ers and pesticides. Furthermore, the foam is inert and biodegrades within 10 to 15 years, making it safe to use in food crop growing.

Resins Agro has experienced rapid growth in recent years. The company expanded its production by launching its products that are currently being used in more than 30 countries worldwide. Now the company is setting its sights on the Middle Eastern market.

By using Resins Agro’s water saving foam products, farmers will be able to create lush, green, plant structures in harsh environments such as deserts or city rooftops. The foam products are ideal for hydroponic or vertical farms, which are growing in number in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Resins Agro has done a number of trials in the region, including one with the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority. After just three months the farm reported a 22% increase in crop yield, as well as a 20% reduction of water consumption. At Yas Links Golf course in Abu Dhabi, the driving range reduced its water consumption by 38% in three months, and the Anantara resort on Banana Island in Qatar reported water savings of 54% during a five-month trial in 2020.

Another success story is a project at a Spanish golf course in Murcia, which is a semi desert area. “By installing our foam-based products, we were able to achieve less compaction of the soil, a much stronger turf and water saving of about 45%. The golf course reduced it’s water usage to nearly four litres per square metre per day. While most golf courses in the same area require between eight to 12 litres/m2 of water a day,” says Mol.

Now the company is looking to expand into the GCC market, with Bahrain as its base.

“Bahrain is a stable market with favourable labour laws and a commitment to food security so it is the ideal place for our business to be,” explains Mol. “At the moment, hydroponic farmers in the GCC are importing their equipment from around the world but there is no need for that. This is a superior product that can be produced in the GCC for local farmers.”

Sports and schools

Aside from the obvious agricultural benefits of Resins Agro’s foam products, they can be used to improve the quality and durability of sport fields and playgrounds, which require strong and dense plant growth to withstand constant, heavy footfall.

Aquaresins Technologies has partnered with schools and football clubs in the US to transform baseball pitches into football fields. Fytofoam, a water saving foam, is installed to hold the perfect amount of water for strong and healthy root systems of grass mats. It also helps with the quick recovery of damaged areas of turf. This creates a greener, more stable, and consistent surface for the players.

“The results have been promising thus far. The goal is to transform football pitches at about 70 more schools in the US,” says Mol. “The success of this project shows that our foam products have a wide range of benefits that can be utilised by different industries and communities.”

What is Fytofoam?

Fytofoam is made of aminoplast resin and water. Its key features are:

- Water absorption capacity of 70% by volume.

- The foam is biodegradable.

- High permeability of air and water and easy moisture transfer to the root zone.

- Good permeability and movement of nutrients.

- Environmentally safe, sterile and inert material.