Biopolymer hydrogel swells 70X retaining water and enables hydroponic plant growth even in drought; averts biodiversity loss, soil degradation

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1099952

"aids in monitor plant health in real time... zero-waste, low-environmental-impact solution for agriculture, especially in drought/ pollution environment... porous polymer network retains water/ nutrients... produced hydrogels from carrageenan biopolymers extracted from red algae, enriched with whole-algae biostimulant extracts... more vigorous plant growth process compared to using traditional hydroponic substrates”

Related: Could a fungus provide a blueprint for next-gen hydrogels?
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1100471