In his numerous travels, Pieter Hoff, a lily breeder and exporter/importer of bulbs from Holland, discovered that all of his customers used drip irrigation and were complaining about the falling water table, that many areas were suffering from deforestation, and that there were more artificially eroded and dry lands than ever.
This is when he made the decision to find a solution for these problems, sold his lily business, and began to focus on something.
And so came the solution in the form of Groasis Technology. The Waterboxx and Growboxx plant cocoons are the main tools of this technology, that can be used to plant trees using biomimicry. These two tools enable plants and trees to thrive under adverse conditions without the use of groundwater or electricity.
With the help of the Groasis Technology, the issue of growing plants in deserts, eroded regions, badlands, and on rocks is resolved. With the aid of this technology, such areas will be replanted, their vegetation will be restored, and fruit and vegetable crops will be planted there to increase productivity.
By catching rainwater, both containers gather water. Condensation is used to create water in the Waterboxx plant cocoon. The tree that is growing in the centre of the Waterboxx and Growboxx plant cocoon is then supplied with the water that has been collected by both boxes over an extended period of time.
Plant cocoons
One can plant one or two trees, bushes, vegetables, or corn in the centre of the 10-times-reusable Waterboxx plant cocoon in eroded areas, on rocks, or in deserts. The Waterboxx plant cocoon gives the option to plant two trees at once, providing the chance to remove the smallest tree after the first year and ensuring that, in the event that one of the two dies, one plant still thrives. The Waterboxx can be used repeatedly for at least ten years. Furthermore, with the Groasis Technology, one can plant in dry areas while using only one litre of water instead of ten. This technology also helps the planter make money while planting trees for agroforestry or personal use while also saving money when planting trees to restore ecosystems.
Additionally, it promotes the formation of soil capillaries, prevents groundwater from evaporating, maintains a consistent temperature around the roots, eliminates weed competition near the planted tree, and may even shield against rodent damage. In this manner, the Groasis Waterboxx and Growboxx plant promote the young tree’s optimum growth.
The main roots of a tree grow into the deep soil on average half to one centimetre per day when using the Groasis Technology. The roots are two to four metres deep after a year. The plant is now independent and robust enough to grow on its own after discovering water in the ground. The Growboxx plant cocoon can be left behind, and nature will take care of the rest, while the Waterboxx plant cocoon can be removed and reused.
How to use
To use the box, either a person or a machine must first dig a hole in the ground. The hole is filled with one to three plants, which are then surrounded by a cardboard panel. Mycorrhizae are injected into the soil around plants in dry areas to release nutrients that would otherwise be chemically inaccessible to the growing plants. The Groasis is filled with water after having a wick placed in the bottom and then lowered over the plants. Two lids are applied, funnels are inserted, and the top lid is sealed with a cap.
At Mohamed Premier University in Morocco, where the box has been tested for three years, nearly 90% of plants have survived with the box compared to 10% without.
The box is being tested in cold mountain regions and wineries in addition to projects in warm arid regions.
Groasis has als won a number of significant awards since 2008. In addition to their most recent award, the Boskalis Water Award for the Groasis Waterfilter Boxx, Groasis has won the Popular Science Award in 2010, the Limburg Design Association Award in 2011, and the Limburg Design Association Award in 2011.
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