The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Oyewole (Middle), with the HydroFoam Agro team Leader, Mr. Abdul Oluwole (3rd right) and other members , Dean, COLPLANT, Prof. Goke Bodunde (left), Prof. Aiyelaagbe (arrowed) and Dr. Akeem Oyekanmi , Director, CENIP (right).

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) is set to collaborate with HydroFoam Agro, for the supply of ‘Fytofoam’, a soil addictive developed for soil moisture retention.

The Vice-Chancellor Prof. Olusola Oyewole, received the Hydrofoam team, during which its representative, Mr. Abdul-Jelil Oluwole showcased Fytofoam, which he said is useful in the cultivation of vegetables. He added that his company was interested in finding a suitable partner like FUNAAB to purchase equipment such as resins and hardeners which are used for the production of the Fytofoam. He explained that HydroFoam was a spongy-whitish substance , made from a by-product of the petroleum industry, which helps to reduce water in plants by 50% and increase crop yield by 30%, noting that the substance can stay for at least 15 years if buried in the soil and is suitable for planting vegetable crops. Mr. Oluwole said that HydroFoam, during the dry season, holds up to 60% water and 33% air in its compartment and releases nitrogen for plant, which, according to him, helps to reduce the menace of wetting crops often, as it sustains water in the ground for the plant and equally boosts the crop’s yield. He observed that HydroFoam is also used as a soil substitute and claimed that the substance has been in use in Holland, Mexico, Brazil and in the Middle-East, among other countries.

Also speaking during the visit, Prof. Isaac Aiyelaagbe, a Professor of Pomology in the Depatment of Horticulture, said the acquisition of Hydrofoam will immensely help students in the department working on Turf-Management and Hy