Using Renewable Resources – Woodfibre for soilless crops

Extracted peat from peatlands across the world has been the most widely used component for soilless crops, due to its availability, low cost, and unique properties to grow a vast range of plants. However, recent environmental concerns regarding the disturbance of natural carbon storage and biodiversity related to peatlands, have led to the search for peat alternatives. ICL has a soil potting manufacturing site in Scotland UK, which historically used mainly local peat to create substrates for professional horticulture. In the last decade, ICL UK has been investing in the research and development of sustainable and high-quality alternatives to peat. The most recently developed material is Fibagro Advance which is a woodfibre-type material, suitable for blending with peat and other non-peat materials. Specifically, byproducts from local sawmills are treated at our manufacturing site and create a unique woodfibre which is suitable for professional horticulture. This successful material developed by ICL UK is yet another product achieved by implementing circular economy processes as we take a byproduct of timber industry, and we transform it to a much-desired material for soilless cultivation of edible and ornamental crops. ICL UK has reduced its peat usage in the growing media by 30% in just under two years of the development of the new product. It has thus reduced further its environmental footprint by reducing the need to import raw materials. ICL UK follows and supports the global efforts of ICL’s sustainable development and aims to reduce peat usage by 60% in the next two years.