Lignin-fatty acid hybrid materials for advanced agricultural applications

Climate change, population growth, and consumer awareness on sustainability pose a challenge to increase agricultural production per land area. To achieve this, disruptive technologies and innovative materials are needed.

LIFAGRO responds to this need by developing new hybrid materials that are sourced from lignin, fatty acids, and natural waxes.

These renewable non-food biomass components will be used to synthesize three types of nanostructured materials for advanced agricultural applications. Hybrid nanoparticles will be developed for enzyme-triggered controlled release of pesticides on specific plant tissues.

Water-resistant coatings will be generated for slow-release fertilizers that avoid uncontrolled leaching of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium and so help avoid overuse of fertilizers.

Thirdly, hydrogel films with tailored drought-resistant properties and capability to protect plants from biological degradation will be elaborated for crop protection. Lignin-based hybrid nanoparticles and microfibers will be used as functional agents in the composite hydrogels.

The developed materials will be characterized and tested using wheat (Triticum aestivum) and maize (Zea mays L.) as model food crops.

Structure-function relationships will be established to draw conclusions on the importance of lignin source (softwood kraft lignin or soda grass lignin), and to lay the foundation for follow-up work on lignin-based hybrid materials.