A new eco-friendly material developed by Italian researchers could help plants grow in extreme drought conditions while reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint.
The invention, a fully biodegradable hydrogel made from red algae, can store massive amounts of water, provide nutrients, and support soilless farming systems such as hydroponics.
In the future, it may even monitor plant health in real time, opening the door to a new era of sustainable and resilient agriculture.
The project is a collaboration between the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (UniBz) and the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) in Genoa. The findings were published in the journal ACS Agricultural Science & Technology.
Researchers from both institutions, including experts in engineering, smart materials, and agricultural sciences, worked together under the Competence Center for Plant Health to create the hydrogel and test its potential.
Hydrogels are known for their sponge-like ability to absorb and retain water.
Their structure is made up of polymer networks filled with pores, making them ideal for storing water or nutrients and slowly releasing them when needed.
While synthetic, petroleum-based hydrogels and foams have been used in horticulture, they are not biodegradable and add to environmental waste. The new material developed in this project offers a natural and sustainable alternative.
At IIT’s Smart Materials Unit in Genoa, the team created the hydrogel using carrageenan, a polysaccharide extracted from red algae.
Carrageenan is already used in food production for its thickening and stabilizing properties, but here it serves as the foundation for a water-retaining, biodegradable material that does not pollute soil.
To boost its performance, the researchers enriched the hydrogel with algae extracts that act as biostimulants, helping plants absorb nutrients more efficiently, resist stress, and grow more vigorously.
Tests conducted at UniBz in Bolzano showed striking results. The hydrogel was able to swell up to 7,000% by absorbing water and then gradually released it to support plant growth. When tested with the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, the hydrogel performed better than conventional hydroponic substrates, producing healthier and stronger plants with minimal water use.
Looking ahead, the scientists aim to integrate flexible, biodegradable sensors directly into the hydrogel.
These sensors would allow farmers to monitor plant health, soil conditions, and water levels in real time, enabling more precise and efficient farming practices. Such “smart” hydrogels could support the development of high-tech agricultural systems that use fewer resources while producing more resilient crops.
“Our goal was to develop a material that is not only biodegradable and sustainable but also interacts directly with plants by providing them with water and nutrients efficiently,” said Dr. Camilla Febo, one of the lead researchers from UniBz and IIT.
“By holding on to moisture and releasing it slowly, this hydrogel can drastically reduce water consumption while helping plants thrive in tough conditions.”
Professor Athanassia Athanassiou, Vice Scientific Director of IIT, emphasized that the project highlights the potential of materials designed from natural resources.
“At a time when freshwater is becoming scarce and plastics are polluting the planet, we need smart and sustainable materials. By using marine resources to engineer this hydrogel, we are offering a concrete solution for agriculture and beyond.”
With climate change, soil degradation, and growing water scarcity threatening food security, this innovation could help farmers adapt to a changing world.
By combining sustainability, biotechnology, and smart materials, the hydrogel project offers a glimpse of how future farming might balance productivity with environmental responsibility.
