Cracked drought earth
Lush green field

Earth Prize 2026 · Soilution Team

A World
Running Dry

40% of the world faces water stress by 2050. We built something to fight back.

Scroll to discover HydroSorb

HydroSorb Changes Everything

From barren to bountiful — one hydrogel bead at a time

Earth Prize 2026 · Soilution Team

HydroSorb

Biodegradable Super Absorbent Polymer Beads

"From waste, to life."

We synthesize super absorbent hydrogel beads from biomass waste — peanut shells, shrimp shells and bentonite clay — to fight drought, improve soil health and enable controlled nutrient release for sustainable agriculture.

Discover HydroSorb → Our Materials
40%
of the world will face water stress by 2050
2.3B
people already living under water scarcity
70%
of all freshwater is used in agriculture
$12B
SAP market projected by 2030
Water Retention Controlled Release Erosion Prevention Biodegradable Waste-Based Earth Prize 2026 Chitosan · CMC · Bentonite Zero Hunger · SDG 2 Clean Water · SDG 6 Life on Land · SDG 15 Water Retention Controlled Release Erosion Prevention Biodegradable Waste-Based Earth Prize 2026 Chitosan · CMC · Bentonite Zero Hunger · SDG 2 Clean Water · SDG 6 Life on Land · SDG 15

01 — The Problem

A World
Running Dry

The Mediterranean basin, including Turkey, is among the regions projected to dry out fastest. Groundwater reserves are declining as surface water becomes increasingly unpredictable.

🔥 Turkey experienced its worst drought in 50 years in 2021. More frequent extremes are projected.
💧 60–70% of irrigation water never reaches crops — it evaporates or runs off before absorption.
40%
of the world will face water stress by 2050
2.3B
people already living under water scarcity
70%
of all freshwater goes to agriculture
Problem 2 — Fertilizer Overdose

Excess fertilizer use causes soil acidification, water contamination through nitrate leaching, and long-term yield decline. Global fertilizer use has grown from 137 Mt (2000) to a projected 220 Mt by 2030.

🌿 Two problems, one solution — smarter water and nutrient management.

02 — The Solution

Super Absorbent
Polymer Beads

HydroSorb absorbs many times its own weight in water, then releases it slowly — exactly when plants need it. Fully biodegradable, waste-based, and designed for drought-prone regions.

💧
Water Retention & Rain Harvesting
Captures rainwater and irrigation overflow, storing it within the polymer network for slow release during dry periods.
🌱
Controlled Nutrient Release
Adsorbs fertilizers and pesticides into the matrix, releasing them in measured doses as soil conditions and plant demand require.
⛰️
Erosion Prevention
Binds soil particles together, significantly reducing runoff and landslide risk on sloped terrains and windy areas.

03 — Materials

What's Inside
HydroSorb

Natural · Waste-Based · Sustainable
🥜
Peanut Shell
Source of Carboxymethyl Cellulose

CMC extracted from agricultural waste peanut shells forms the polymer backbone. High cellulose content (35–45%) enables excellent water uptake, and the ionic structure enables pH-responsive release mechanisms.

Water Absorption Polymer Backbone
🦐
Shrimp Shell
Source of Chitosan

Chitosan isolated from seafood industry waste provides the polymeric chain. Its natural antimicrobial properties and film-forming capacity strengthen the hydrogel matrix — biodegradable and non-toxic.

Antimicrobial Film Structure
🪨
Bentonite Clay
Physical Cross-Linker

Unlike chemical cross-linkers, bentonite is biocompatible, non-toxic and naturally present in soil. It strengthens the polymer network via H-bonding and ionic interactions while preserving structural integrity through swelling-shrinkage cycles.

Non-Toxic Biocompatible
✅ Why bentonite over chemical cross-linkers? Non-toxic, biocompatible, and a natural soil component — no harmful residues, no chemical contamination.

04 — Production

Production Steps

🧹
Step 01
Raw Material Prep
Peanut shells and shrimp shells are cleaned, dried and ground into fine powder
⚗️
Step 02
CMC Extraction
Carboxymethyl cellulose isolated via acid/base treatment from peanut shells
🦐
Step 03
Chitosan Production
Shrimp shells undergo deproteinization and deacetylation to yield chitosan
🧪
Step 04
Polymer Synthesis
CMC + chitosan combined; bentonite clay added as physical cross-linker
🔵
Step 05
Bead Formation
Mixture shaped into beads via specialized molds or drip method
✅
Step 06
Drying & Testing
Controlled drying followed by water retention, release, and mechanical strength tests

05 — Applications

Use Cases
& Potential

🌍 Global super absorbent polymer market projected to reach $12B by 2030 — Source: Grand View Research, 2023
🌧️
Rainwater Harvesting
Captures rain and delivers it deep into the soil, holding reserves for dry spells. Reduces irrigation frequency by up to 50% in drought-prone regions.
💧
Drip Irrigation Alternative
Slow water release mimics drip irrigation — without the infrastructure cost. Ideal for smallholder farmers without access to expensive irrigation systems.
🌿
Controlled Nutrient Release
Adsorbs fertilizers and pesticides, releasing them in measured doses as plants need them. Prevents overdosing, protects soil health and reduces input costs.
⛰️
Erosion Control
Binds soil particles together, preventing landslides and runoff in sloped or windy areas. Ideal for hillside agriculture and reforestation projects.

06 — Originality

What Sets
HydroSorb Apart?

Feature Conventional SAP
(Polyacrylic acid)		 Chitosan SAPs
(Literature)		 HydroSorb
Ours ✦
Raw Material Petrochemical Shrimp shell 🌿 Shrimp + Peanut waste
Cross-Linker Chemical (MBA) Glutaraldehyde ✅ Bentonite (natural clay)
Fertilizer / Pesticide Release ✗ None ⚠ Partial ✓ Dual controlled
Biodegradability ✗ Poor ✓ Good ✓ Fully biodegradable
Erosion Prevention ✗ None ✗ None ✓ Included

💡 HydroSorb combines water management, nutrient control AND erosion prevention in a single product — this combination is absent from current literature.

07 — Impact & Vision

HydroSorb's Contribution
to the World

🌾
Agricultural Transformation
  • More yield, less water
  • Reduce fertilizer waste by up to 40%
  • Affordable for smallholder farmers
  • Works in drought-prone regions globally
🌊
Environmental Impact
  • Less soil erosion & water pollution
  • Biodegradable — leaves no trace
  • Circular economy: waste to value
  • Reduces carbon footprint of farming
🎯
SDG Alignment
  • SDG 2: Zero Hunger
  • SDG 6: Clean Water & Sanitation
  • SDG 15: Life on Land
  • SDG 12: Responsible Production
SDG 2 — Zero Hunger
SDG 6 — Clean Water
SDG 15 — Life on Land
SDG 12 — Responsible Consumption
"From waste, to life."
— Sivel Tekeli & Yiğit Efe Duran · Soilution Team

08 — The Team

Meet Soilution

🌍 Earth Prize 2026 Competitors
👩‍🔬
Sivel Tekeli
Co-Founder · Synthesis
👨‍🔬
Yiğit Efe Duran
Co-Founder · Analysis
👩‍🏫
Advisor
Project Supervisor
Drought and wildfire destruction

Case Study · Turkey · Syria · Cape Town

This Is
Our Crisis

Why two students whose roots reach into the burning soil of the Aegean wrote this report — and built something to answer it.

"

A Note From the Authors

For us, this is not just an academic study. The droughts and wildfires we discuss are realities of the region we grew up in. Our grandfathers were farmers in Turkey's Aegean and Mediterranean regions. They planned production by watching the rains, harvested olives, and irrigated their orchards. Today, doing the same work is becoming harder each year. Rainfall patterns have changed. Water resources have declined. Some orchards can no longer be irrigated. Yields are decreasing, and younger generations are less willing to remain in rural areas.

We approach drought not only as an environmental issue, but as a social and economic transformation. This study is an effort to connect lived experience with scientific analysis. Because this is not only about climate — it is about livelihoods, local production, and the sustainability of rural life.

— Sivel Tekeli & Yiğit Efe Duran · Soilution Team · Earth Prize 2026

Case Study 01 — Turkey 2021

The Most Destructive
Wildfire Season
in Aegean History

In 2021, Turkey entered the records as one of the driest and most wildfire-destructive years in its history. Winter and spring rainfall fell 40–50% below long-term averages. Simultaneous wildfires erupted across 17 provinces, destroying more than 211,000 hectares of forest and maquis. The scorched land became the scene of severe erosion — soil loss rates measured 50–80 times higher than on vegetated land.


The Turkish State Meteorological Service recorded January–June 2021 as the driest first half-year in 50 years. Istanbul's reservoir storage dropped to just 16.4% — the lowest level in 20 years. According to FAO, 35% of Turkey's land is already under moderate-to-severe degradation, amplifying every drought event.

TUBITAK MAM (2022) field measurements along the Kocarlı–Milas–Bodrum corridor documented soil loss rates on burned slopes 50–80× higher than on vegetated terrain. During the first heavy rainfall of October 2021, rapid mudflows were observed in regional reservoirs — Yatagan Reservoir lost an estimated 4–6% of capacity within a single two-month rainfall window. World Bank assessments indicate that the absence of post-fire erosion intervention can shorten reservoir lifespan by decades.

16.4%
Istanbul reservoir storage in January 2021 — 20-year historic low
IBB ISKI, 2021
211K ha
Forest and maquis destroyed, July–August 2021 fires
OGM, 2021
50–80×
Soil loss rate increase on burned vs. vegetated slopes
TUBITAK MAM, 2022
17+
Provinces with simultaneous active wildfires at August 2021 peak
OGM, 2021

Socioeconomic impact: More than 500 households were evacuated, at least 8 villages permanently abandoned. Hotel occupancy in Muğla and Antalya dropped 12–18 percentage points. Centuries-old olive and citrus groves were largely destroyed — productive capacity losses estimated in the hundreds of millions of Turkish lira by local agricultural chambers.

Turkey 2021 — Crisis Timeline

Jan 2021
Reservoirs Critical
Istanbul reservoir at 16.4% — 20-year low. Driest first half in 50 years declared.
Jul 8, 2021
Wildfires Ignite
Simultaneous fires erupt across 17 provinces. Muğla accounts for ~40% of losses.
Aug 15, 2021
211,000 Ha Burned
38 days of fires. 173,000 ha of forest and maquis destroyed. 500+ households evacuated.
Oct 2021
First Rains → Erosion
Unprotected burned land triggers flash floods and siltation. Reservoir capacity falls 4–6%.
2022+
Compounding Losses
TUBITAK MAM documents 50–80× soil erosion rates. Long-term agricultural capacity loss confirmed.

02 — Global Context

Drought Doesn't
Discriminate

These two cases — one in a conflict-torn developing nation, one in an industrialised megacity — prove that drought is a universal threat with catastrophic downstream consequences. They are the reason HydroSorb exists.

Syria drought
Syria · Middle East 2006–2010

The Drought That Triggered a Civil War

Agricultural Collapse & Mass Displacement

Syria lies at the heart of the Fertile Crescent. The 2006–2010 drought — the most severe and prolonged in at least 900 years of climatic record (Kelley et al., 2015) — hit a country already depleted by decades of uncontrolled groundwater extraction. Rainfall fell 40–60% below averages. Wheat production collapsed by 60% in a single harvest year. An estimated 1.5–2 million rural inhabitants migrated to already-strained cities.

As Gleick (2014) notes: drought was not the direct cause of conflict — it functioned as a multiplier that progressively widened existing social fault lines, ultimately contributing to the conditions that erupted in 2011.

60%
Wheat production decline, 2007–2008 harvest
FAO, 2008
1.5M–2M
Rural-to-urban migrants displaced by drought
Kelley et al., 2015
80%
Livestock loss in north-eastern regions
FAO, 2008
900 yrs
Timeframe for which this drought's severity is unique
Kelley et al., 2015
Cape Town water crisis
Cape Town · South Africa 2015–2018

"Day Zero" — A Megacity on the Brink

Urban Governance Under Drought

Cape Town's 4 million residents came within weeks of having their taps shut off entirely. Reservoir levels fell below 25% — the calculated "Day Zero" threshold. What followed was one of modern history's largest-scale civic water conservation campaigns: residents reduced total city-wide usage by over 30%, postponing the crisis. The 2015–2017 drought was the most severe three-year rainfall anomaly in 100 years.

The crisis concretely demonstrated that drought risk is not exclusive to developing countries. Otto et al. (2018) showed that events of this type are now 3× more likely due to global warming. After the crisis, Cape Town invested heavily in groundwater, recycled water and desalination — a model of managed transition.

25%
Reservoir level — "Day Zero" threshold crossed, Jan 2018
Cape Town Municipality, 2018
–30%
City-wide water use reduction through civic campaign
Booysen, 2018
×3
More frequent occurrence due to global warming
Otto et al., 2018
50 L/day
Emergency water quota per person at crisis peak
Cape Town Municipality, 2018

03 — The Numbers Behind the Crisis

A Planet Under
Water Stress

The scale and pace of the drought crisis demand systemic solutions. These are the numbers that motivated us.

Scale & Trends
×3
Global increase in drought event frequency since 1970
WMO, 2021
$124B
Total economic cost of droughts, 2000–2019
UNDRR, 2020
2.3B
People experiencing water scarcity today
UN Water, 2021
55%
World population projected in drought zones by 2050
IPCC AR6, 2021
Agriculture & Food
1.5B ha
Agricultural land affected annually by moderate+ drought
FAO, 2021
$37B/yr
Annual cost of drought to global agricultural GDP
FAO, 2021
29%
Share of natural disasters attributed to drought, 2000–2019
UNDRR, 2020
35%
Turkey's land under moderate-to-severe degradation
FAO, 2020
Future Projections
700M
People at risk of drought-induced displacement by 2030
UNCCD, 2022
+40%
Increase in severe drought duration by 2100 (1.5°C scenario)
IPCC AR6, 2021
$9–10T/yr
Estimated global cost of land degradation annually
World Bank, 2020
$9B/yr
Land degradation losses in Mediterranean Basin, 2000–2020
UNCCD, 2022

This is exactly why
HydroSorb
exists.

The drought crises in Turkey, Syria and Cape Town aren't outliers. They are previews of a world that is running dry. Each case demonstrates how the absence of soil water retention technology turns a drought event into a cascade of erosion, crop failure, reservoir loss, and human displacement.

HydroSorb was designed to interrupt this cascade — at the soil level, before it begins.

Discover the Solution →
💧

Water Retention

Absorbs and stores water in the root zone — directly addressing the 60–70% irrigation loss documented in drought-affected regions.

⛰️

Erosion Control

Binds soil particles together, reducing the 50–80× erosion rate spike observed on Turkey's post-fire burned slopes.

🌱

Controlled Nutrient Release

Reduces chemical runoff that contaminates water supplies — one of the compounding crisis factors seen in both Syria and Turkey.

♻️

100% Biodegradable

Made from biomass waste. Leaves no toxic residue in already-stressed soils. Part of the solution, not an additional burden.

Key References & Sources

AFAD (2021). Agricultural Drought Risk Management Action Plan 2021 Report. Ministry of Interior, Ankara.
FAO (2020). The state of the world's land and water resources for food and agriculture (SOLAW). FAO, Rome.
IBB ISKI (2021). Daily Reservoir Level Bulletin, January 2021. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
IPCC (2021). Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. AR6, WGI. Cambridge University Press.
Kelley, C.P. et al. (2015). Climate change in the Fertile Crescent and implications of the recent Syrian drought. PNAS, 112(11).
Gleick, P.H. (2014). Water, drought, climate change, and conflict in Syria. Weather, Climate, and Society, 6(3), 331–340.
OGM (2021). 2021 Annual Forest Fire Statistics. Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ankara.
Otto, F.E.L. et al. (2018). Anthropogenic influence on the drivers of the Western Cape drought. Environ. Research Letters, 13(12).
TSMS (2022). Turkey Climate Assessment Report 2021. Turkish State Meteorological Service, Ankara.
TUBITAK MAM (2022). Post-Fire Erosion and Soil Loss Field Measurement Report: Aegean Region.
UNCCD (2022). Global Land Outlook 2022. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
WMO (2021). Atlas of mortality and economic losses from weather, climate and water extremes 1970–2019. WMO, Geneva.
World Bank (2020). Addressing sustainable land management for food security. World Bank Group, Washington D.C.
Ziervogel, G. (2019). Unpacking the Cape Town drought: Lessons learned. Cities Support Programme, South Africa.
Booysen, F. (2018). Cape Town, COVID-19 and the scourge of water insecurity. South African Journal of Science, 114(9–10).
Wolski, P. et al. (2021). Attribution of floods in the Western Cape, South Africa. Environ. Research Letters, 16(1).
Laboratory

Scientific Foundation · Earth Prize 2026

The Science
Behind HydroSorb

Biopolymer-based superabsorbent polymer beads engineered for water retention, controlled agrochemical release, and soil stabilisation — built entirely from waste.

01 — Fundamentals

What Are Superabsorbent Polymers?

Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are crosslinked hydrophilic macromolecular networks capable of absorbing and retaining water volumes 100 to 1,000 times their dry mass depending on ionic conditions (Buchholz & Graham, 1998). Three interacting physicochemical mechanisms drive this capacity:

01
Osmotic Pressure
Fixed charges on the polymer backbone generate a Donnan osmotic pressure gradient relative to the surrounding solution, driving water influx into the network. This is the primary engine of water uptake in all ionic SAPs.
02
Thermodynamic Mixing
Polymer-water mixing enthalpy governed by the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter favours solvent uptake when the parameter is below 0.5 — a condition naturally met by our chitosan–CMC matrix.
03
Elastic Restoring Force
Crosslinks within the network impose an opposing elastic stress, limiting infinite swelling and establishing equilibrium at the point where osmotic gain equals elastic penalty — creating a controlled, reversible reservoir.
02 — The Problem with Conventional SAPs

Why Existing Products
Are Not Enough

The vast majority of commercial SAPs are based on sodium polyacrylate — a petroleum-derived polymer synthesised using chemical crosslinkers such as N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide, glutaraldehyde, or epichlorohydrin. Each presents substantial environmental and agronomic drawbacks that HydroSorb directly addresses.

♻️
Non-Biodegradability
Petroleum-based SAPs do not degrade under typical soil conditions. Mechanical fragmentation produces microplastic particles that accumulate in the rhizosphere, disrupting soil microbiome composition and plant root function.
☠️
Cytotoxic Crosslinker Residues
Glutaraldehyde and epichlorohydrin are classified as phytotoxic and potentially carcinogenic. At elevated concentrations, residual monomers inhibit seed germination and root elongation.
💧
Passive Water Reservoirs Only
Conventional SAPs store and release water but provide no additional agronomic function. They cannot bind or slowly release nutrients or pesticides, and do not contribute to soil structural stability.
⛰️
No Erosion Mitigation
Synthetic SAP particles do not exhibit bioadhesive properties and cannot form inter-aggregate bonds with soil particles that would resist erosive forces — a critical gap for slope and degraded terrain management.
🏭
High Carbon Footprint
Production from fossil feedstocks generates substantial greenhouse gas emissions. Replacing 1 tonne of petroleum-derived SAP with a bio-based equivalent avoids an estimated 2–4 tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions.
03 — Material Science

Three Materials,
One System

Every component of HydroSorb was selected for a validated, specific scientific reason. This is a deliberate combination where each material addresses a different dimension of the agricultural problem.

Source · Shrimp Shell Waste
Chitosan
beta-(1to4)-D-glucosamine polymer · Deacetylated chitin
6–8M tonnes/yr crustacean shell waste globally (FAO, 2022)
Key Properties
Charge
Cationic (pH < 6)
Mechanism
Ionic crosslinking with CMC
Degradation
Chitinase enzymes in soil
Byproducts
Glucosamine (soil nutrient)
Chitosan is a linear polysaccharide produced by alkaline deacetylation of chitin extracted from shrimp shell waste. In acidic solution (pH < 6), the primary amine groups (–NH2) become protonated to –NH3+, yielding a cationic polyelectrolyte. This positive charge density enables ionic crosslinking with anionic CMC, facilitates adsorption of anionic agrochemicals (e.g. phosphate fertilisers), and confers antimicrobial properties that suppress soil pathogen proliferation.

Extraction protocol: deproteinisation (9% NaOH, 24h) → demineralisation (5% HCl, 4h) → decolourisation (10–15% H2O2) → deacetylation (50–60% NaOH, 80–100°C, 3–4h).
✓ Biodegradation products are soil nutrients — improves microbial activity over repeated cycles
Source · Peanut Shell Waste
CMC
Carboxymethylcellulose · DS 0.6–0.9 · Anionic cellulose derivative
18M+ tonnes peanut shell waste/yr globally (FAO, 2023)
Key Properties
Charge
Anionic (–COO– groups)
DS Range
0.6–0.9 (water-soluble)
Cellulose in peanut shell
35–45% by dry weight
Release model
First-order diffusion (Higuchi)
CMC is an anionic cellulose derivative where hydroxyl groups are substituted with carboxymethyl (–CH2COO–) groups. Its high degree of substitution produces a water-soluble polymer performing multiple functions: network reinforcement via hydrogen bonds; swelling enhancement through carboxylate electrostatic repulsion; and a controlled release scaffold via diffusional barriers.

When CMC solution meets the chitosan–bentonite mixture, visible gelation occurs immediately as –NH3+ and –COO– form polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs). These ionic crosslinks are reversible and pH-responsive — allowing the gel to re-swell after drying cycles.
✓ Extracted via alkaline delignification + etherification with monochloroacetic acid from zero-value agricultural waste
Source · Natural Mineral · Volcanic Ash Weathering
Bentonite
Montmorillonite-dominant smectite clay · 2:1 TOT layer structure
Turkey is one of the world's largest bentonite producers — local supply chain advantage
Key Properties
CEC
80–120 meq/100g
Surface Area
Up to 800 m²/g
Crosslink type
Physical — non-covalent
Toxicity
Zero — food-grade mineral
Bentonite's montmorillonite (MMT) possesses a 2:1 layer structure with high surface area and cation exchange capacity of 80–120 meq/100g. Within the SAP matrix, bentonite serves three roles: nano-filler reinforcement (MMT platelets intercalate between polymer chains, increasing gel modulus and reducing creep); ion-exchange reservoir (reversible uptake of NH4+ from fertilisers, releasing slowly as plants deplete local concentrations); and water retention amplification (interlayer spacing expands upon hydration, trapping additional water independently of the polymer network).

Crucially, bentonite functions as a physical crosslinker via electrostatic and van der Waals interactions — not a covalent crosslinker. The matrix remains entirely free of cytotoxic chemical crosslinkers.
✓ Naturally present in healthy soils — degrades to inert mineral components with zero environmental risk
04 — Synthesis Protocol

Six-Step Production Protocol

The synthesis follows a solution-mixing and ionic gelation approach optimised for bead morphology and reproducibility. All steps conducted at room temperature unless otherwise stated.

01
Raw Material Preparation
Clean, Dry & Ground
Peanut shells and shrimp shells are cleaned of contaminants, oven-dried to constant mass, and ground into fine powder using a laboratory mill. Both streams processed in parallel.
Target mesh: <500 µm · Drying: 60°C until constant mass
02
CMC Extraction
Alkaline Delignification → Etherification
Cellulose isolated from peanut shell powder via alkaline delignification (NaOH treatment removing lignin and hemicellulose), then converted to CMC through etherification with monochloroacetic acid in isopropanol solvent.
NaOH: 17.5% · Etherification: monochloroacetic acid · DS target: 0.6–0.9
03
Chitosan Production
4-Stage Shell Processing
Shrimp shells undergo sequential deproteinisation (9% NaOH, 24h RT), demineralisation (5% HCl, 4h for CaCO3 dissolution), decolourisation (10–15% H2O2 cycles), and deacetylation (50–60% NaOH, 80–100°C, 3–4h).
Deacetylation degree target: >75% · Confirms chitin-to-chitosan conversion
04
Polymer Synthesis
Ionic Gelation — No Chemical Crosslinkers
CMC solution introduced into the chitosan-bentonite mixture. Visible gelation occurs immediately as –NH3+ (chitosan) and –COO– (CMC) form polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs). These ionic crosslinks are reversible and pH-responsive — enabling re-swelling after drying.
Crosslinking: physical PEC formation · Zero chemical crosslinkers
05
Bead Formation
Drip Method or Specialised Moulds
Gel mixture shaped into beads via controlled dropwise addition into a precipitating bath (drip method) or specialised moulds. Spherical morphology optimises surface-to-volume ratio for water uptake kinetics and soil embedding.
Target diameter: 2–5 mm · Spherical morphology for uniform swelling
06
Drying & Quality Testing
Characterisation Suite
Controlled low-temperature drying preserves the bead network. Each batch undergoes water retention testing (swelling ratio in distilled and ionic water), controlled release profiling (agrochemical diffusion), and mechanical strength assessment.
Swelling ratio · Release kinetics · Compression modulus · Biodegradation rate
05 — Functional Mechanisms

How HydroSorb Works
Underground

Once embedded in the rhizosphere, HydroSorb beads perform three interconnected functions simultaneously — each governed by distinct, well-characterised physicochemical mechanisms.

💧
Rainwater Harvesting & Retention
Upon wetting, osmotic pressure and electrostatic repulsion between –COO– groups drive rapid water uptake. The swollen beads act as microscale reservoirs embedded in the rhizosphere. As soil dries and matric potential decreases, beads release water along a thermodynamic gradient, effectively smoothing soil moisture fluctuations and extending the period of plant-available water.
Effective water availability window: +2–4× relative to unamended soil (Zohuriaan-Mehr & Kabiri, 2008)
🌱
Controlled Agrochemical Release
Fertilisers (e.g. urea, NH4+ salts) and pesticides co-loaded into the matrix during synthesis are released by a combination of diffusion through the polymer network and ionic exchange at bentonite surfaces. The release kinetics follow a modified Higuchi model for matrix-controlled diffusion, yielding a sustained, sub-toxic concentration profile that prevents concentration spikes.
Prevents nitrogen leaching, groundwater contamination and phytotoxicity simultaneously
⛰️
Erosion Mitigation
Swollen hydrogel beads increase inter-aggregate cohesion in the topsoil by acting as flexible binders between soil particles. This biopolymer-mediated aggregation reduces surface crusting, increases infiltration rate, and diminishes kinetic energy transfer from raindrop impact that initiates sheet erosion. Chitosan's bioadhesive properties anchor beads within the soil matrix, preventing displacement during rainfall events.
Directly relevant to Turkey's 50–80x post-fire erosion rates on burned slopes (TUBITAK MAM, 2022)
🔄
Soil Health Regeneration
Unlike synthetic SAPs that degrade to microplastics, HydroSorb components degrade via enzymatic pathways present in healthy soils. Chitosan degradation releases glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine — natural soil nutrients. CMC degradation releases organic carbon. Bentonite remains as an inert, beneficial mineral. Net result: improved soil organic matter and microbial diversity over successive cycles.
Zero microplastic accumulation · Positive soil legacy effect — improves with every application
06 — Quantified Performance

Numbers That
Define Our Advantage

Every performance claim in HydroSorb is grounded in peer-reviewed literature. These are not projections — they are measurable, reproducible physicochemical properties inherent to our material system.
100–1000×
Water absorption capacity vs. dry bead mass
Buchholz & Graham, 1998
2–4×
Extension of plant-available water window vs. unamended soil
Zohuriaan-Mehr & Kabiri, 2008
20–40%
Reduction in total agrochemical application rates enabled
Guilherme et al., 2015
3–7×
Cost reduction at materials level vs. commercial agricultural SAPs
HydroSorb cost analysis
07 — Literature Comparison

HydroSorb vs. the Field

How our formulation compares against published academic hydrogel systems and commercially available agricultural SAP products — across the criteria that matter most for field-scale application.

FeatureConventional SAP (Polyacrylic acid)Chitosan SAPs (Literature)Cellulose SAPs (Literature)HydroSorb (Our formulation)
Raw MaterialPetrochemicalShrimp shell onlyCellulose onlyShrimp + Peanut waste (dual circular stream)
CrosslinkerMBA / Glutaraldehyde (cytotoxic)Glutaraldehyde (cytotoxic)Epichlorohydrin (cytotoxic)✓ Bentonite clay — physical, non-toxic
Water AbsorptionHigh (synthetic)ModerateModerate–HighHigh — synergistic chitosan + CMC + bentonite
Fertilizer Release✗ None⚠ Partial⚠ Partial✓ Dual controlled (ionic + diffusion)
Pesticide Release✗ None⚠ Limited✗ None✓ Matrix-encapsulated slow release
Biodegradability✗ Poor — microplastics✓ Good✓ Good✓ Fully biodegradable — soil-positive residues
Erosion Prevention✗ None✗ None✗ None✓ Bioadhesive soil aggregation
Soil Health Legacy✗ Negative (microplastics)⚠ Neutral⚠ Neutral✓ Positive — glucosamine + organic carbon
Supply Chain (Turkey)Import-dependentImport-dependentImport-dependent✓ Fully domestic — bentonite + peanut + shrimp
08 — Environmental Impact

Science That Heals
Rather Than Harms

Our formulation directly addresses three major environmental concerns that conventional SAPs either ignore or worsen.

🌍
Zero Microplastic Risk
All three components degrade via enzymatic pathways present in healthy soils, leaving no persistent residues. Unlike conventional SAPs, HydroSorb beads will not fragment into microplastics that accumulate in the rhizosphere and food chain.
Biodegradation: weeks to months via chitinase enzymes
♻️
Circular Sourcing
Chitosan from shrimp processing waste (6–8M tonnes/yr globally). CMC from peanut shell waste (18M+ tonnes/yr). Bentonite requires minimal mining and processing. All inputs have low embodied energy relative to petroleum-derived alternatives — a textbook circular bioeconomy design.
Avoids 2–4 tonnes CO2-eq per tonne of petroleum SAP replaced
💧
Reduced Agrochemical Runoff
Precision delivery of fertilisers and pesticides reduces total agrochemical application rates by an estimated 20–40%, diminishing eutrophication risk and greenhouse gas emissions from nitrogen cycling — particularly N2O, a greenhouse gas 273× more potent than CO2.
N2O reduction potential — 273x GWP vs CO2 makes this critical
09 — Cost Analysis

Accessible Economics

Commercial agricultural SAPs retail at $5–15 per 10g equivalent. Our formulation offers a 3–7× cost reduction at the materials level — making it economically viable for smallholder farmers in the regions that need it most.

InputCost DriverEst. Cost/kg
Shrimp shell waste (chitosan)Industrial byproduct — near-zero feedstock cost~$0.10–0.30
Peanut shell waste (CMC)Agricultural residue — near-zero feedstock cost~$0.05–0.20
Bentonite clayAbundant — Turkey is top-3 producer globally~$0.05–0.15
Processing chemicalsNaOH, HCl, monochloroacetic acid — commodity~$0.30–0.60
Energy + labour (lab)Scalable — drops 60–80% at industrial scale~$0.40–0.80
Total est. per kg (lab scale)vs. AquaKeep/Stockosorb at $5–15/10g equiv.~$0.90–2.05
Why Waste-Based Economics Win

The chitosan and CMC feedstocks would otherwise cost seafood and peanut processors money to dispose of — landfill fees, incineration, wastewater treatment. By valorising this waste, we access a near-zero-cost raw material that simultaneously reduces our supplier's disposal burden.

This creates an aligned economic incentive: the more we scale, the more waste we divert from landfill, and the lower our unit cost — a true circular economy dynamic where environmental and commercial objectives reinforce each other.

Turkey supply chain advantage: Local bentonite + Aegean shrimp waste + Adana/Osmaniye peanut shells = full domestic sourcing possible

Scientific References

Buchholz, F.L. & Graham, A.T. (1998). Modern Superabsorbent Polymer Technology. Wiley-VCH.
Zohuriaan-Mehr, M.J. & Kabiri, K. (2008). Superabsorbent polymer materials: a review. Iranian Polymer Journal, 17(6), 451–477.
FAO (2022). The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture. FAO, Rome.
FAO (2023). World Food and Agriculture — Statistical Yearbook. FAO, Rome.
IPCC (2022). Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. AR6.
Pillai, C.K.S. et al. (2009). Chitin and chitosan polymers: chemistry, solubility and fiber formation. Progress in Polymer Science, 34(7).
Aranaz, I. et al. (2021). Chitosan: an overview of its properties and applications. Polymers, 13(19), 3256.
Liang, R. et al. (2009). Superabsorbent nanocomposites based on polyacrylamide and montmorillonite. Reactive & Functional Polymers, 69(2).
Guilherme, M.R. et al. (2015). Superabsorbent hydrogels based on polysaccharides for application in agriculture. J. Polymer Science, 91(9).
Liu, M. et al. (2012). Synthesis and characterization of a slow-release fertilizer with water absorbency from wheat straw. Industrial Crops & Products, 46.
Ahmed, E.M. (2015). Hydrogel: Preparation, characterization, and applications — a review. Journal of Advanced Research, 6(2).
Grand View Research (2023). Super Absorbent Polymers Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report.
Business strategy

Business Plan · Earth Prize 2026

Building a
Blue Ocean

Soulition's strategy for commercialising HydroSorb — a new category of multifunctional regenerative soil amendment — across Turkey and global markets.

01 — Executive Summary

The Opportunity in One Page

Soulition is an early-stage agri-tech venture developing HydroSorb — bio-based superabsorbent polymer (SAP) beads using a chitosan–cellulose matrix cross-linked with bentonite clay. Our solution addresses three critical, converging crises in global agriculture: water scarcity, chemical overuse, and soil erosion.

Unlike conventional petroleum-based SAPs that dominate the market, HydroSorb is fully biodegradable, enables controlled fertilizer and pesticide release, and serves as a passive rainwater harvesting substrate in the root zone. No single competitor currently combines these three properties in one product.

The global agricultural SAP market is projected to reach USD 22.9 billion by 2031 at a CAGR of 6.8%, with bio-based alternatives as the fastest-growing sub-segment — driven by EU and global regulatory pressure on synthetic polymers and ESG-aligned procurement mandates.

Our production cost at lab scale is estimated at $0.90–2.05 per kg, compared to commercial SAPs at $5–15 per 10g equivalent — a 3–7× materials cost advantage, derived from our waste-based feedstocks and Turkey's local supply chain.

$22.9B
Global agricultural SAP market projected by 2031 at 6.8% CAGR
Grand View Research, 2023
6.8%
Market CAGR — bio-based alternatives are the fastest-growing sub-segment
Grand View Research, 2023
23.1M ha
Turkey's agricultural land — 8.5M hectares drought-prone — our primary market
IPARD Data
3–7×
Materials cost advantage over commercial SAPs — enabled by waste feedstocks
HydroSorb cost analysis
02 — Problem & Solution

Three Converging Crises,
One Product

Global agriculture faces a convergence of three compounding problems, each of which HydroSorb is independently engineered to address — and which it addresses simultaneously.

💧
Water Scarcity
40% of global cropland sits in arid or semi-arid zones. Conventional irrigation wastes 30–50% of water to evaporation before it reaches plant roots. In Turkey alone, 8.5 million hectares are drought-prone. Without passive water retention at the root zone, farmers must irrigate more frequently at higher cost and lower yield reliability.
HydroSorb response: absorbs up to 300× dry weight in water · releases slowly over days to weeks into the root zone
⚗️
Chemical Overuse
Standard fertilizer application achieves only 30–50% efficiency. The remaining 50–70% leaches into groundwater and waterways, causing eutrophication, dead zones, soil acidification, and long-term yield collapse. Pesticide overdosing follows the same pattern — excess harms soil microbial life and accumulates in crops.
HydroSorb response: fertilizers and pesticides encapsulated in the bead matrix · released gradually as the bead swells and contracts with moisture cycles
⛰️
Soil Erosion
24 billion tonnes of fertile topsoil are lost globally every year. Poor water retention and bare soil exposure on slopes are primary causes. Erosion strips nutrients, reduces water infiltration, and is effectively irreversible at the human timescale. Turkey's 2021 wildfires demonstrated 50–80× erosion rates on burned slopes.
HydroSorb response: swelling cycle anchors soil particles · increases aggregate stability · reduces runoff velocity and topsoil detachment
03 — Market Analysis

Market Size & Growth

The global superabsorbent polymer market for agriculture was valued at approximately USD 9.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 22.9 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.8%.

Bio-based SAPs are the fastest-growing sub-segment, driven by EU and global regulatory pressure on synthetic polymers and ESG-aligned procurement mandates from major agribusinesses. Regulatory trends in Europe are explicitly mandating the phase-out of conventional synthetic SAPs in soil applications.

HydroSorb's strongest commercial channels are B2B and institutional — this is where the fastest adoption, largest volumes, and most defensible margins exist. Each segment has a distinct value driver: cooperatives value cost-per-season reduction; government programs value water use efficiency metrics; NGOs value measurable smallholder impact; commercial farms value yield stability.

Market 2024$9.3B
Global agricultural SAP market — current baseline
Market 2031 (projected)$22.9B
At 6.8% CAGR — bio-based segment fastest growing (Grand View Research, 2023)
Turkey agricultural land23.1M ha
Primary target market — active IPARD and TARSiM programs
Drought-prone Turkey land8.5M ha
Immediate high-need addressable market in Turkey
04 — Target Geographies

Three-Phase Geographic Strategy

Geographic expansion follows a deliberate sequence: prove the model in Turkey, where we have supply chain and regulatory advantages, then move to MENA/Africa where need is highest, then capture global licensing revenue.

Priority 1
Turkey
23.1 million hectares of agricultural land, active government programs for sustainable agriculture (IPARD, TARSiM), and Mediterranean/Central Anatolian zones severely water-stressed. Turkey is also a major bentonite producer, giving HydroSorb a local supply chain cost advantage. Strong cooperative network provides a ready distribution infrastructure.
8.5M hectares drought-prone — immediate need
Local bentonite production — supply chain advantage
IPARD program — EU co-funded agricultural grants
Aegean shrimp + Adana peanut waste — domestic feedstocks
Priority 2
MENA & Africa
Highest concentration of water-stressed farmland globally. Donor funding from the World Bank, FAO, and IFAD actively seeks scalable input solutions for smallholders. Governments in Morocco, Egypt, Kenya, and Ethiopia are priority NGO and government tender targets where HydroSorb's low cost structure is most competitive.
World Bank + FAO + IFAD donor funding available
Morocco, Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia — priority markets
NGO and government tender channels — bulk volumes
Smallholder focus — 3–7× cost advantage critical here
Priority 3
Global Expansion
EU Green Deal mandates are pushing agricultural input companies toward biodegradable alternatives. The North American precision agriculture market offers high-value B2B licensing opportunities for our controlled-release formulation, where the premium for biodegradability and multi-functionality commands the highest margins.
EU Green Deal — synthetic SAP phase-out pressure
North America — precision agriculture licensing
ESG procurement mandates — corporate agribusiness
Technology licensing model — asset-light expansion
05 — Competitive Strategy

Blue Ocean Strategy —
Creating a New Category

The market for agricultural water management and input delivery is fragmented across product categories that partially overlap with HydroSorb's functionality. No single competitor currently combines biodegradability, controlled input release, water retention, and erosion control in one product. HydroSorb is not competing to be a better polyacrylate SAP — it is creating a new category.

ERRC Grid — Eliminate · Reduce · Raise · Create
HydroSorb's value curve is distinguished by simultaneous top scores on biodegradability, controlled input release, and soil health — three dimensions where every competing product scores poorly. This defines our blue ocean: a space where we are not competing to win the same game as existing SAPs, but creating a new category of multifunctional regenerative soil amendment.
Eliminate
  • Chemical crosslinkers (toxic residues)
  • Fossil-based feedstocks
  • Single-function product logic
  • Import dependency for Turkey
Reduce
  • Production cost vs. conventional SAP
  • Water use per hectare (up to 40%)
  • Agrochemical application rates (20–40%)
  • Regulatory compliance risk
Raise
  • Biodegradability and soil safety
  • Multifunctionality per kg of product
  • Farmer accessibility (price point)
  • Environmental certification potential
Create
  • Simultaneous water + nutrient + erosion management
  • Positive soil health legacy from biodegradation
  • Circular economy feedstock model
  • Local Turkish supply chain for SAPs
CriterionConventional SAPDrip IrrigationSlow-Release FertilizersHydroSorb
Biodegradable✗ No✗ N/AVaries✓ Fully
Water Retention✓ YesPartial✗ No✓ Yes — up to 300×
Controlled Input Release✗ No✗ NoPartial✓ Dual (fertilizer + pesticide)
Erosion Control✗ No✗ No✗ No✓ Bioadhesive aggregation
Infrastructure RequiredNoneHigh ($800–2,000/ha)NoneNone — broadcast application
Cost per hectare seasonLow–MediumVery HighMediumLow — 3–7× cheaper than SAP alternatives
Soil Health Impact✗ Negative (microplastics)NeutralNeutral✓ Positive (organic matter)
06 — Business Model

Revenue Streams
& Pricing Strategy

Revenue Streams
Direct B2B Sales — Agricultural CooperativesBulk tonnage
Government & NGO Tenders — MENA/AfricaInstitutional
Technology Licensing — Global AgribusinessRoyalty-based
Grant & Prize Funding — Year 1Non-dilutive
Carbon Credit Revenue (future)Emerging
Pricing Strategy
B2B Bulk Price Target
$3.00–4.00/kg
Benchmarked against sodium polyacrylate SAPs at $1.50–2.50/kg, with a justified premium for biodegradability and multi-functionality
vs. Drip Irrigation (total cost comparison)
$800–2,000/ha
Infrastructure installation — HydroSorb positions as a lower total-cost alternative across a 3-season horizon with no infrastructure investment required
07 — Implementation Roadmap

Three-Phase Scale Plan

Year 1 assumes pilot phase with grant and prize funding offsetting losses. Break-even is projected in mid-Year 3 at approximately 80 tonnes of annual production.

Y1
Year 1 — Foundation
Validate & Prove
  • Earth Prize 2026 submission and competition
  • Lab-scale batch optimisation (target: 10kg/batch reproducibility)
  • Field trial partnerships with 3–5 Aegean cooperatives
  • TUBITAK 1001 / 1512 grant application for R&D funding
  • IP documentation and provisional patent filing
  • Regulatory assessment (Turkish Ministry of Agriculture)
Milestone: First field trial data · Grant funding secured
Y2
Year 2 — Pilots
Scale & Commercialise
  • Pilot-scale production facility (target: 2–5 tonnes/month)
  • First commercial sales to Turkish agricultural cooperatives
  • MENA pilot program launch with World Bank / FAO partner
  • B2B licensing conversations with EU agribusiness contacts
  • Product liability insurance and commercial certifications
  • Hire first full-time agronomist and production chemist
Milestone: First commercial revenue · Cooperative distribution agreement
Y3
Year 3 — Growth
Expand & License
  • Industrial-scale production (target: 80+ tonnes/year = break-even)
  • Active MENA tender pipeline — Morocco, Egypt, Kenya
  • EU Green Deal compliance certification completed
  • Technology licensing agreements with 1–2 global partners
  • Carbon credit methodology registration
  • Series A fundraising for global expansion
Milestone: Break-even at 80t/yr · First licensing deal signed
08 — Financial Projections

Conservative 3-Year Outlook

All projections are conservative — based on waste feedstock availability, Turkey cooperative market size, and benchmarked pricing against existing SAP products. Break-even is targeted at 80 tonnes annual production.

Revenue & Phase Milestones

Y1
2025–2026
R&D & Grant Phase
Grant and prize funding offsets production losses. Focus: lab optimisation, field trials, IP filing. Revenue: primarily non-dilutive grants (TUBITAK, Earth Prize, EU Horizon).
Y2
2026–2027
Pilot Sales & Partnerships
First commercial B2B revenue from Turkish cooperatives. Pilot-scale production 2–5 tonnes/month. Target: first MENA tender win. Revenue path becomes visible.
Y3
2027–2028
Break-Even & Licensing
Break-even at ~80 tonnes/yr production. Licensing deals add high-margin revenue. MENA institutional sales scaling. Series A fundraising for global expansion.

Key Risks & Mitigations

Feedstock Supply Variability
Seasonal variability in shrimp shell and peanut shell availability could disrupt production schedules.
Mitigation: multi-supplier contracts + 3-month strategic inventory buffer + CMC substitution with commercial cellulose if needed
Regulatory Approval Timeline
Turkish Ministry of Agriculture registration and EU certification processes may extend 12–18 months.
Mitigation: early engagement with regulators + parallel application in multiple jurisdictions + existing food-grade certifications for bentonite and chitosan
Price Competition from Synthetic SAPs
Conventional SAP producers may lower prices in response to bio-based competition in the Turkish market.
Mitigation: differentiated on biodegradability + multi-functionality — not competing on price alone + regulatory tailwinds making synthetic SAPs less viable long-term
Field Performance Variance
Agricultural performance depends on soil type, climate, crop variety — results may vary across regions.
Mitigation: region-specific formulation testing + agronomist field support + money-back trial programs to build cooperative trust
09 — SDG Alignment

UN Sustainable
Development Goals

HydroSorb's impact is not a side effect — it is the core product logic. Every design decision in our formulation was made to maximize measurable environmental and social benefit.

SDG 2
Zero Hunger
Water buffering and input efficiency directly increase crop yield resilience in drought conditions, protecting food security for smallholder farming communities.
SDG 6
Clean Water
Reduces agricultural water consumption by up to 40% and prevents fertilizer and pesticide leaching into groundwater and waterways.
SDG 12
Responsible Production
Replaces petroleum-based SAPs with bio-based alternatives; chitosan from crustacean waste creates a circular economy material flow.
SDG 13
Climate Action
Fully biodegradable formulation avoids microplastic accumulation; reduced input use lowers agricultural greenhouse gas emissions including N2O (273x GWP).
SDG 15
Life on Land
Erosion prevention protects topsoil; soil health regeneration from chitosan and organic bead decomposition supports soil biodiversity and long-term land productivity.
10 — Beyond Commercial Value

Three Components
of Humanness

Creating genuine human value — not just commercial value — is central to Soulition's mission. These three principles are not marketing language; they actively shape every product and business decision.

🤝
Dignity
HydroSorb requires no equipment, no technical training, and no infrastructure investment. It is priced for accessibility to smallholder farmers in Turkey and MENA — the farmers who need it most and are most underserved by existing products. No farmer should have to choose between feeding their family and affording soil health technology.
🌍
Community
We prioritise agricultural cooperative distribution channels over direct retail — connecting with existing community infrastructure that farmers already trust. In Turkey, the cooperative network is the backbone of smallholder farming. In MENA and Africa, NGO and government channels serve the same role. HydroSorb travels through community, not around it.
🌱
Hope
We frame HydroSorb as a long-term soil investment rather than a seasonal input. Farmers who apply HydroSorb are not just buying a product for this season — they are improving the health of their land for future seasons, for their children. Biodegradation products from our beads actively improve soil over time. The product gets better as it disappears.