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Innovative Subsurface Water Retention System (SWRS) Machine to Combat Desertification

Listing Description

Result description

Problem: Expanding aridity threatens Mediterranean agriculture, particularly in sandy soils where deep percolation causes water loss. While Subsurface Water Retention Systems (SWRS) are proven to boost yields (up to 238% in corn), their large-scale adoption is hindered by a lack of mechanization for their deployment.

CREA IT developed a tractor-mounted prototype (TRL 6/7) to install U-shaped impermeable sheets up to 100 cm deep.

  1. Technology: A double-wheel central excavation ditcher with rotary wheels at a 23° angle excavates a trench while conveyors lift the soil.
  2. Process: The machine unrolls a 1.5m wide polyethylene film and simultaneously deposits the soil back over it.
  3. Design: It leaves ~30 cm of topsoil free for standard tillage.
  4. Performance: Effective field capacity is ~0.19–0.2 ha/h.

Validation in MIDAS

  1. Spain: With ITAP, SWRS was deployed for guayule. Sensors confirmed significantly higher root-zone humidity (30-60cm) compared to control plots and higher biomass yield above the SWRS.
  2. Italy: With University of Catania, the system was tested on castor, sorghum, and hemp in sandy soil, validating operational capability.

Addressing target audiences and expressing needs

Our needs are
  • Use of research Infrastructure
  • Collaboration
  • Other type of Investment
We specifically need / are looking for

We are looking for:

  1. Machine Manufacturers: To license the design and engineer a commercial version of the prototype
  2. Private Investors: To fund the industrial scaling and marketing of the machine.
  3. RTOs and material scientists: To collaborate on developing and testing biodegradable or lower-cost impermeable films.
  4. Agronomic partners: To host further demonstration trials in different soil types and crop rotations to validate economic returns.
Target audiences
  • Public or private funding institutions
  • Research and Technology Organisations
  • Private Investors

R&D, Technology and Innovation aspects

Current stage description

The prototype has been validated in demo fields in Spain and Italy. We seek investors and manufacturers to industrialize the machine, optimizing speed and testing biodegradable films. Join us to scale this solution for arid regions globally.

Scalability

Our business model focuses on licensing the technology to manufacturers for global distribution. Designed for standard tractors, the unit ensures low adoption barriers for agricultural contractors. This enables rapid market penetration across arid regions , creating a profitable, high-impact service model for large-scale land restoration.

Replicability

The prototype’s replicability is proven through successful demonstrations in Spain and Italy.The technology is adaptable to standard tractors (100-140 kW), making it ready for deployment across Mediterranean and arid regions.

Sustainability

Future scenarios and assessments elaborated in MIDAS confirm that dry MED areas will see an increase of marginal agricultural land in the next decades due to climate change. With a potential 50+ year lifespan , this SWRS can offer a durable, long-term solution to combat desertification and restore land productivity.

Result submitted to Horizon Results Platform by CENTRE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AND SAVING FONDATION

Offer Details

Specifications and Deliverables:

Value Proposition:

This unique prototype installs water-retention shhets at 1m depth in a single pass. It unlocks agriculture on marginal, sandy soils by retaining water in the root zone and preventing nutrient leaching.

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Adress:

MARATHONOS 19TH KM
PIKERMI
Central Greece
190 09
Greece

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