Absorboost – cellulose powder improving cotton quality

Together with Japanese fiber producer Daiwabo Rayon, the HKRITA research team piloted making regenerated viscose fibers out of the cellulose power from the Green Machine, to be able to make new garments. Some prototypes were made.

Moreover – as a lucky unintentional consequence – the powder with its superabsorbent characteristics could be interesting for farming purposes.

The goal: irrigation-free cotton

India is one of the largest producer of cotton in the world, and contrary to what many think, most cotton is grown by really small scale farmers. Together with Shahi, one of India’s largest apparel manufacturer, we ran several pilots to test the powder in cotton farming.

By mixing the powder in the soil surrounding the cotton plants, the soil absorbs water more easily. As the plant remains healthier, the quality of the cotton fibers improves. In some pilots the the harvest increased by 20%. Moreover, the need for irrigation is reduced or completely eliminated, saving water for the local communities.

Across all replications, the plants with Absorboost had a higher yield compared to the control lines. There are other similar synthetic crop products, but we haven’t come across anything that is as eco friendly as this.

Anant Ahuja, Head, Organizational Development, Shahi Exports

Half of India relies on agriculture, and as the weather becomes more unpredictable these findings could play a major role for Indian cotton farmers, and for communities nearby that are dependent on water.