Environmental polluter becomes protector
After more than a year of tinkering, exploring, and experimenting, the project made a breakthrough.
Group member Hải said the most difficult task in the project was determining how to extract the substances contained within the cashew nut shell.
As shells also contain allergens, the team took months working out how best to remove the harmful substance.
Biologist Huệ said the Combo (Far-Sup) preparations extracted from plant waste is sure to help protect and boost the growth of cashew trees.
“The products the group has made are not yet found anywhere else,” the teacher said.
“They are extremely practical, as they not only make use of the waste bark from the cashew trees but also exploit local wild plants as raw materials. The price is therefore affordable for farmers and gives them the opportunity to use safe organic products and develop sustainable industrial crops.”
Gia Lai has more than 一 七 六,000 ha of perennial industrial crops, of which the cashew area totals nearly 一 八,000 ha.
After harvesting, farmers use only the kernel to produce cashew products such as dried and roasted nuts, while the discarded shells have long blighted the local environment.
Meanwhile, large areas of wild sunflower trees, which were previously only known for their beauty when in bloom, can now serve a greater purpose, as their leaves are used to create bio-products for farming.
The model the students used combining agricultural waste and wild plants to create useful bio-products that contribute to environmental protection needs to be promoted and applied widely in other parts of the country. VNS
