National Icon of the Netherlands

Press message 28-09-2016

Dutch National Icon* finalist Groasis is going to save 700.000 residents in Mexicali from future sandstorms

The Groasis Ecological Water Saving Technology is going to change the lives of the residents of Mexicali, the capital of Baja California in Mexico. The Groasis Ecological Water Saving Technology will be used to plant a 180 kilometres long section of trees, in collaboration with the Mexican State and Legado Verde, to shield the residents from the fierce sandstorms that frequent the area. Legado Verde is a Mexican company working with the latest methods of infrastructural landscaping projects of reforestation, city greening, airport plantations and along highways and streets, without using drip irrigation.

The trees will be planted in 2017 and will serve as a 180 kilometres long “curtain” that helps reduce the amount of airborne particles that cause pollution and nuisance. Governor Vega de Lamadrid states: ‘’The windshield of trees will increase the quality of the life of residents of Mexicali, in the near future and for many generations to come’’. Baja California is very ambitious with its greening program. In addition to planting the windshield, two thousand hectares (nearly 5.000 acres) of burned forests in the Sierra de Juarez will be restored using the Groasis Ecological Water Saving Technology. If the restoration is successful, another 8.000 hectares are foreseen to be planted from 2018.

The trees will be planted with the help of the Growboxx® plant cocoon. Pieter Hoff, the Dutch inventor of the Growboxx® plant cocoon and the Groasis Ecological Water Saving Technology says: ‘’The Growboxx® plant cocoon is a biodegradable intelligent bucket made from recycled paper that uses 90% less water than drip irrigation. In spite of these enormous water savings, we’re seeing a survival rate of the trees in excess of 90%. In addition to this, the box has a very unique feature: you can plant a tree in combination with four bushes, wildflowers or vegetables. This allows us to catch even more sand and other airborne particles and increase bio-diversity!‘’

As the survival rate is very high and water consumption very low, the planting costs per hectare with Groasis’ revolutionary technology are considerably reduced. Ecosystem restoration and air quality improvement (in cities) will be affordable for every government and costs a fraction of previously used technologies. In a few years the Mexicali citizens can breathe clean air again and enjoy a beautiful green space surrounding their city.

Website: www.groasis.com

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/Groasiswaterboxx

Press message of State of Baja California: PSN enlinea

*National Icon: The Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands has elected the 10 most innovative companies of the Netherlands. Groasis is honoured to be one of the 10. On October 19 - 2016 the Minister of Economic Affairs will announce the 3 most innovative companies who are honoured the title ‘National Icon’ of the Netherlands. You can find information about all the 10 elite companies here.