28 May 2025
Overland & Niab: Transforming Farm Waste into Sustainable Growing Media
In this case study, John Longley (Operations Manager at Overland) and Dr Mat Papp-Rupar (Researcher and Plant Pathologist at Niab) demonstrate how their Growing Kent & Medway-funded project could revolutionise soft fruit production.
Through their Collaborative R&D grant, they've developed a process to transform spent coir from soft fruit farms into a sustainable, disease-free substrate that performs as well as virgin material while reducing carbon emissions by up to 40% and using 12% less water.
This circular economy innovation could significantly reduce the environmental footprint of Kent's soft fruit industry by eliminating waste and creating a locally-sourced alternative to imported growing media. Watch the video to see their journey from concept to commercial trials.
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