For thousands of years, mankind has been searching for ways to increase crop yields. From the first primitive greenhouses in ancient Rome to medieval greenhouses and modern industrial greenhouses, the history of agriculture has been a constant struggle to extend the growing season and increase yields. Today, in the 21st century, Polish scientists are opening a new chapter in this history, proposing a solution as simple as it is ingenious – the use of…. ordinary soap foam.
A team of scientists from the University of Life Sciences in Poznań has developed a technology that could completely change the way we think about greenhouse crops. The solution may seem inconspicuous, but it has the potential to revolutionize the entire agricultural industry.
Conventional greenhouses face a major challenge – huge energy consumption. Maintaining the right temperature consumes 30 to 50% of total production costs [1]. This is not only an economic problem, but also an environmental one. However, the team led by Professor Wlodzimierz Krzesinski found an unusual solution.
The secret lies in the design of double baffles filled with soap foam. Each bubble acts like a miniature thermos – the air trapped inside cannot move freely, drastically reducing heat loss. In addition, the thin walls of the bubbles effectively block temperature conduction, creating an excellent thermal barrier.
However, the system is not based solely on foam. It is a sophisticated technological solution, combining special foam generators with a computerized control system. The most impressive feature of this technology is the closed CO₂ cycle – the gas, which in traditional greenhouses escapes into the atmosphere, here is used entirely by plants in the process of photosynthesis [1].
The results of the research are impressive. The use of foam for thermal insulation of partitions makes it possible to reduce heat demand by as much as 10 times, which translates into a 95 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. What’s more, yields increase by up to 30-40% with this technology, and crops can be grown year-round – even in winter [1].
The first implementations of the technology are already showing its potential. Tomatoes grown in “bubble” greenhouses not only produce higher yields, but can also be produced year-round, which is of great importance for food security. In addition, the significant reduction in production costs can translate into lower vegetable prices for consumers, especially during the winter.
The history of this innovative technology dates back to the 1930s, but it was Poznan scientists who brought it to a level that enabled industrial application. Following the success of the first generation of greenhouses, further improvements have been made, including new foam generators that reduce the risk of failure and allow for more efficient production.
Perhaps in a few years, looking back, we will see 2024 as the moment when greenhouse agriculture entered a new era – an era in which simple soap foam helped solve some of the biggest challenges of modern agriculture.
Bibliography:[1] Michal Czubak, Bigger yields through soap bubbles. A new method by scientists from Poland, https://www.tygodnik-rolniczy.pl/uprawa/wiekszy-plon-dzieki-bankom-mydlanym-nowa-metoda-naukowcow-z-polski-2524304
