Hof University of Applied Sciences is working on a new research project to develop sustainable substrates for plant production. Under the leadership of Dr. Harvey Harbach, a research group is working with regional and industrial partners to investigate how sheep’s wool as a natural material can replace peat and plastic in the production of vegetable seedlings.
The project “Sustainable growth media for hydroponics based on round needled natural materials” (NaWaruN) aims to develop an innovative substrate that can be used directly in commercial systems such as vegetable production. The aim is to use materials that are not only more sustainable, but also resource-saving and regionally available.
A particular focus is on eliminating peat and plastic from plant production. Dr. Harvey Harbach emphasizes:
‘The aim is to use our research to conserve valuable resources and make natural materials usable for new applications. The goal of peat- and plastic-free food production is an important step towards sustainability in horticulture.”
Dr. Harvey Harbach
Sheep’s wool as a natural substrate
The central innovation of the project lies in the processing of sheep’s wool into substrates for plant production. In a special process called circular needling, the fibers of the sheep’s wool are processed into stable, seamless tube structures. These tubes, which can be produced in different diameters and lengths depending on the type of plant, are intended to replace plastic and peat containers as a natural substrate.
The Institute of Materials Science (ifm) at Hof University of Applied Sciences is developing these sheep’s wool substrates in collaboration with BWF Protec, a company specializing in technical felts. Alexandra Luft from ifm sees great potential in this:
‘Our knowledge of innovative textiles made from natural materials can be applied here to a global problem.”
Alexandra Luft, ifm
Environmental problems caused by peat and plastic
Peat has been used in horticulture for decades, but it causes significant environmental problems. The extraction of peat destroys valuable ecosystems such as moors, which are important CO2 reservoirs. Around 6% of global CO2 emissions are caused by the draining of peatlands. The use of plastic pots in plant production is also problematic from a sustainability perspective, as they are often only used once and are not recycled. With the newly developed sheep wool substrates, these two materials – peat and plastic – could be replaced in plant production.
Partners and funding
The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection as part of the Central Innovation Program for SMEs (ZIM). In addition to Hof University of Applied Sciences and its two institutes (inwa and ifm), the Schinner horticultural company and BWF Protec are key partners. The horticultural company Schinner, a pioneer in sustainable modernization, supports the research with its expertise in vegetable cultivation and formulates clear requirements: “Unfortunately, there is currently no adequate substitute for peat in vegetable seedling production. We hope that this project will develop a solution-oriented alternative.”
BWF Protec, a company with a long tradition in the processing of wool felts, is contributing its technical expertise to the production of the substrates. The project thus also expands the company’s product range towards sustainable applications.
Future prospects
With the new sheep’s wool substrates, horticulture in Germany could become a pioneer in the use of sustainable materials.
The collaboration between the various partners combines scientific and industrial strengths to close an important gap in sustainable food production.”
Dr. Harvey Harbach
