A team of Ugandan researchers developed an organic fertiliser that uses waste from leather production. They extract collagen from animal skin to make a hydrogel and enrich it with nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The researchers describe the fertiliser as "smart" because it releases nutrients according to the soil's needs and helps the soil retain moisture, which can reduce drought effects.
Tests took place on a coffee farm in Masaka. Farmer Frank Matovu said he saw strong results and noted that many chemical fertilisers need frequent application; for coffee he said spraying is required several times a year. He also said non-organic fertilisers lower prices because buyers prefer organic produce and warned that chemical products can weaken soil over time.
The researchers plan to have a market-ready product by November and hope to supply markets in Ethiopia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. They will seek partnerships with government and agricultural stakeholders to scale up.
Difficult words
- fertiliser — material added to soil to help plants growfertilisers
- collagen — a protein from animal skin and connective tissue
- hydrogel — a soft material that holds a lot of water
- nutrient — substances that plants need to grownutrients
- retain — keep water or other substances inside soil
- organic — grown or made without synthetic chemicalsnon-organic
- stakeholder — person or group with interest in a projectstakeholders
- scale up — increase the size or reach of something
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How could a fertiliser that keeps soil moisture help farmers during a drought? Give one or two reasons.
- What concerns does Farmer Frank Matovu have about chemical fertilisers? Do you think these concerns are important? Why or why not?
- If you were a researcher, which country mentioned in the article would you choose first to sell the product in, and why?
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