Sustainable Polymer-based solutions for Resource efficiency and Innovation in Nutrient and Water Management for High-Value Target Crops. Helping European farmers grow climate-resilient potatoes and other high value crops through biodegradable water-retaining granulates.
2025
2026
The Challenge
Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of droughts across Europe.
High-value crops such as potatoes and sugar beets are among the most affected: even short dry spells can lead to drastic yield losses, reduced quality, and rising irrigation costs. Farmers urgently need solutions that increase soil water availability, stabilise yields, and support long-term soil health, without adding environmental burden.
The Solution
SPRINT develops and deploys a water and nutrient storage soil amendment granulate designed to:
Improve water and nutrient retention and efficient release,
Increase drought resilience,
Reduce the need for irrigation,
Support climate-adaptive, sustainable production of high-value field crops.
The granulate is based on Green Legacy’s advanced polymer technology, providing water buffering precisely in the crop root zone.
SPRINT will bring this innovation from development to market readiness through coordinated field trials, environmental impact assessment, and farmer-centric validation.
What We Will Do
Over the course of 18 months (October 2025 – March 2027), the consortium will:
Conduct multi-site field trials on potatoes to validate yield, quality, and water-use efficiency benefits.
Perform a full Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) led by the Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT), analysing potato production with vs. without water storage granulates.
Optimise product formulation and application guidelines for high-value crops and diverse soil conditions.
Engage farmers and industry stakeholders to co-design pathways to large-scale adoption.
Prepare for commercial rollout of the solution for target crops.
Impact
SPRINT contributes to a future-fit European food system by:
Environmental impact
Reduced water use and irrigation demand
Lower climate footprint of potato and sugar beet production
Improved soil structure, water storage capacity, and long-term soil health
Economic impact
More resilient yields under climate stress
Lower water and energy costs for farmers
Scalable technology suitable for Europe’s most drought-vulnerable regions
Project Partners
Green Legacy GmbH (Austria) – Project lead; technology development and commercialisation
LUT University (Finland) – Environmental impact leader; Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) expertise
Additional partners from science, industry, and farming practice will collaborate in field validation and scale-up activities.
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