TESTED. PROVEN. EFFECTIVE.

Sustainable innovation needs a scientific basis. Green Legacy works with leading universities and research institutions to continuously research the effectiveness of our water-retaining granules, improve
and develop new products. Green Legacy is also currently receiving support as part of the FFG funding for applied research and development
. These projects enable the scientific validation of new formulations and contribute to the development of the next generation of water-retaining
products – even more efficient, sustainable and adaptable to climate change.

SPRINT project

Sustainable polymer-based solutions for resource efficiency and innovation in nutrient and water management for high-value target crops. SPRINT supports European farmers in growing climate-resilient potatoes and other high-value crops through the use of biodegradable water-retaining granules.

The challenge

Climate change is significantly increasing the frequency and intensity of droughts across Europe. High-value crops such as potatoes and sugar beet are particularly affected: even short periods of drought can lead to drastic yield losses, quality losses and rising irrigation costs. Farmers therefore urgently need solutions that increase water availability in the soil, stabilize yields and ensure long-term soil health – without causing additional environmental pollution.

The solution

SPRINT develops and implements a water- and nutrient-retaining soil improvement granulate that is specifically designed for this purpose,

improve the storage and controlled release of water and nutrients,
increase the drought stress tolerance of plants,
reduce the need for irrigation and
to support climate-adaptable, sustainable production of high-quality field crops.

The granulate is based on the advanced polymer technology of Green Legacy GmbH and enables precise water buffering directly in the root area of the plants. SPRINT is taking this innovation from development to market maturity, supported by coordinated field trials, a comprehensive environmental impact analysis and practical validation together with farmers.

What we do

Over a period of 18 months (October 2025 – March 2027), the consortium:
Carry out field trials with potatoes at several locations to validate the effect on yield, quality and water use efficiency,
conduct a full Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) under the direction of LUT University, comparing potato cultivation with and without water storage granules,
optimize the product formulation and application recommendations for high-value crops and different soil conditions,
Actively involve farmers and industry partners to jointly shape the path to large-scale application,
and prepare the commercial market launch of the solution for the target crops.

Environmental impact

Reduced water consumption and lower irrigation requirements
Lower climate footprint in potato and sugar beet production
Improved soil structure, increased water storage capacity and long-term soil health

Economic impact

More stable yields under climatic stress
Lower water and energy costs for farms
Scalable technology for Europe’s most drought-prone regions

Project partners

Green Legacy GmbH (Austria) – Project management, technology development and commercialization
LUT University (Finland) – Head of environmental assessment and expertise in life cycle analysis (LCA)

Additional partners from science, industry and agricultural practice are involved in field validation and subsequent scaling.