WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM THAT NEEDED SOLVING?
Humankind has overexploited the Earth, resulting in 40% of the world's agricultural land now being nearly unusable due to pollution, including contamination with salts. At the same time, plants have been selectively bred for maximum yield, but this breeding process has removed vital substances from the plants. When these modified plants are used as animal feed, the animals become vulnerable and ill. The problem propagates through the food chain and thus becomes a risk for humans, who become more susceptible to viruses and diseases, such as COVID-19.

WHAT WAS THE SOLUTION?
Halophytes are the key to solving these challenges and can tackle several issues at once. Halophytes are plants that can grow in salty environments and cleanse the soil of salt, making it fertile again. Halophytes produce large quantities of the very essential substances that industrialisation has removed from crop plants.

You know about vitamins and minerals and have learnt about the anti-inflammatory effects of antioxidants, but you might as well learn to say polyphenol, which are the new super-antioxidants. Polyphenols are found in halophytes and have a significant impact on the immune system. As a bonus, halophytes also contain substances that are normally extracted from fossil oil. Halorefine has developed a method for biorefining, which extracts the various valuable substances that can be used in animal feed, skincare, pest control and other products.

HOW DOES YOUR INNOVATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
Halorefine addresses some of the world's most pressing challenges: food shortages, depleted soil, replacing fossil oil, and improved health. The content of valuable substances in halophytes is so high that it is profitable to establish biorefineries to extract these compounds.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?
We are most proud that we have developed knowledge and methods that, on nature's own terms, can contribute to solving complex and absolutely vital areas such as climate, food supply, and health.