EcoStrate™ - Biodegradable Seed Substrate Sheet
EcoStrate™ is a new lightweight, fully biodegradable, stabilised substrate designed for the hydroponic cultivation of microgreens, salads and herbs.
The number of companies growing microgreens has increased tremendously in the last decade. These tiny plants produce up to 40 times more nutrients (including vitamins C, E, and K) than their mature counterparts and, due to their high antioxidant content, are considered a “functional food” (a food that promotes health or prevents disease). While the colour, texture and intense flavour of microgreens have made them very popular with consumers.
A clean, soil-free product at harvest is important both in terms of appearance and food safety, which is why stabilised growing media is so popular with microgreen growers. However, most of these products are made of synthetic materials. EcoStrate™ now offers a bio-based alternative for a more environmentally aware society.
Ideally suited as a growing mat for any scale of production (ranging from the food industry to urban farming and hobbyist), EcoStrate™ offers a superior growth media that absorbs and retains water while providing an optimal environment to promote rapid germination and plant growth with dense healthy root development.
This natural fibre (PLA) based bio-polymer matting manages water efficiently for best growth in a variety of hydroponic systems and the needle-felt structure has been designed to offer high aeration at root level.
The inert fibre of EcoStrate™ is less prone to bacterial growth and designed to maintain its structural integrity for the entire crop cycle (so will not clog filters) but critically is certified fully compostable to BS EN 13432:2000 as it is made from Poly Lactic Acid (extracted from fermented plant sugars).