R H S T Industries
RHST Industries makes WaterPearls, a "Drop it and Forget it" nature based solution for reducing water evaporation losses in agriculture
About Us
By 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population will face freshwater shortages. While fresh water makes up only 1% of the Earth’s water, more than 70% of it is used in agriculture. To address this issue, RHST Industries has developed the WaterPearls evaporation control solution. WaterPearls is a nature-based solution specifically designed to reduce water loss due to evaporation. The pearls create a barrier that restricts moisture evaporation by up to 80%, reducing the amount of freshwater needed for irrigation by up to 60%. The pearls are inert and 100% UV-biodegradable. Thousands of WaterPearls are packaged in large mats, which are laid down over the root zones of trees. The breathable mesh surface allows irrigation lines to be placed on top, ensuring even water distribution. Workers can walk over the mats easily, and they require minimal maintenance, lasting up to 50 years.
Relevant Challenges
Energy Efficiency
RHST WaterPearls reduce energy consumed in desalination and pumping, as well as the amount of water needed in agricultural irrigation systems.
Water Scarcity
The evaporation of water in agriculture accounts for over 50% of the virtual water footprint of crops in arid zones. WaterPearls eliminate evaporation from the soil by biomimicry, altering the surface energy at the interface between the waterpearls and soil. The vapour pressure drop at the interface results in drastically reducing evaporation.
Reduce Inputs
Reducing evaporation losses in agriculture, will reduce water consumption by improving water use efficiency. It will also improve nutrient use efficiency, as nutrients concentrations remain stable in the pore water for plant uptake, instead of left behind because of evaporation. This availability will increase growth rate and yield.
