Did you ever think of solving the world’s hunger problem using mattresses? Pretty strange right? But, scientists at the University of Sheffield UK have found a mattress as a solution to reduce the hunger issue. According to scientists, the mattress can be used in growing crops and fruits in any condition. The man behind this invention is Tony Ryan, a Chemistry Professor from the University of Sheffield. Tony once visited a landfill where he noticed a tomato plant growing on a discarded sofa. This scenario led him to believe that the plant can grow on foams.
Further, Tony and his team visited a Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan to help people develop useful products out of waste materials. Meanwhile, when Tony was taken to a warehouse he saw a full stacked discarded mattresses. This clicked his mind; he thought these mattresses could be an ideal solution for tackling food shortage at the camp. In this process, the foam holds the plant upright and all other functions of the soil come from the nutrients in the water. Moreover, Tony explains that “only 20% of the water used in growing something in the ground is used. It is because the water isn’t going anywhere and is kept, where it’s needed”. Overall, the invention of growing plants in the middle of the desert with foam from discarded mattresses has proven the best solution to provide food in any weather condition.