4. Prioritising regenerative resources

PLANTS ARE OUR REGENERATIVE RESOURCES

Plants have developed the most effective solar panel we know of on the planet, capable of capturing the sun's energy and converting it into glucose which they store in their bodies and make available to all other beings for food. Thanks to the energy provided by the sun, this process, also known as photosynthesis, consists of the chemical reaction of 6 molecules of carbon dioxide (CO2) with 6 molecules of water (H2O) which are transformed into 6 molecules of glucose (C6H12O6) releasing 6 molecules of a waste product (for them, but very precious for all other beings) which is oxygen (O2). In short, thanks to plants, there is life on the planet, so by creating and maintaining a POWERgrass hybrid field, all we have to do is emulate nature. The organic matter produced by the plants partly feeds the biological system and partly is removed when the grass is cut and used to produce compost and leachate to make new fields more fertile and feed crops.

POWERgrass uses renewable resources such as gentle cork as an elastic and insulating element that reduces the compaction of sandy soil. The material is tested with simulation for 100 years which confirms that more than 60% of the product is stable; undoubtedly during this time the plant is able to reproduce its bark several times.

The silica sand and zeolite sand used in the growth substrate are inert materials that can be reused to regenerate the system indefinitely.

During maintenance, no toxic substances such as herbicides, fungicides or insecticides are used, as they are devastating to biological activity. By applying the teachings of regenerative agriculture, the aim is to develop the immune defences of plants by promoting the virtuous symbiosis between plants and micro-organisms that nature has established over thousands of years.