Teenager from South Africa turned orange peels into cheap, biodegradable product that can help plants survive drought by 84%. She used just ‘electricity and time’

In most cases, orange peels go right to the dustbin. However, one girl from South Africa turned a kitchen item waste into a solution for water shortages that can spell disaster for farmers. According to the BBC, Kiara Nirghin, a young girl from South Africa, experimented with kitchen waste to evaluate its ability to absorb and retain water. She eventually came up with hydrogel, which was made from orange peel extracts. This product earned her the top prize at Google’s science fair.

What Did Nirghin Do?

According to a Global Citizen report, Nirghin boiled orange peels and then finely chopped them with avocado skins. This mixture was then left to dry in the sun for 14 days and created a gelatinous solution. It was baked and then ground into a fine powder. In her study, Nirghin claimed that the gelatinous substance became a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) and boosted a plant’s ability to survive in a drought by 84%.

“Commercially used acrylic SAP retail for around $2,000 to $3,000 per metric tonne, whereas the 'orange peel mixture' could retail at $30 to $60 per metric tonne," Nirghin explained.


"The product is fully biodegradable, low-cost and has better water-retaining properties than commercial SAPs. The only resources involved in the creation of the 'orange peel mixture' were electricity and time; no special equipment nor materials were required," she added.

Orange peels contain natural compounds such as pectin and cellulose that can absorb moisture. So they can be processed into making hydrogel, which can improve the ability of the soil to retain moisture during rainfall or irrigation and slowly release it over time. This method helps the soil retain moisture for extended periods, particularly in dry or sandy conditions where water tends to drain away rapidly. Hydrogels can also be used in sandy soil where the water is stored for just a short time – therefore there would be less need for irrigation, allowing the crops to survive without water.