Agricultural innovations in Poland target drought and heat stress

Researchers and agricultural companies in Poland are developing new technologies to combat the effects of drought and extreme heat on crop yields.

At the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, engineers are developing controlled-release fertilizers. Unlike traditional fertilizers that release nutrients rapidly and require frequent application, these new products use a specialized structure to release nutrients gradually. The project explores using sheep wool combined with biodegradable polymers to leverage the material's hygroscopic properties, which can help improve soil water retention during droughts.

In a separate development, the microbiological product Aquaman SL has been tested in the field to mitigate climate stress. Containing Pseudomonas sp. bacteria sourced from Polish soils, the product acts as both an exophyte and an endophyte. Rather than providing water directly, the treatment helps plants manage their existing water resources more efficiently, showing effectiveness in cereals, corn, and rapeseed during periods of high temperature and low precipitation.