The TerraCottem® soil conditioner is the original proprietary mixture of more than twenty hydroabsorbent and nutritive components that work in synergy, more effectively than any single polymer or fertilizer product, to significantly increase the capability of soils and growing media to retain and provide water and nutrients, to improve plant and root growth, and to reduce the amount of water necessary to create high-quality plants and turf.

The product is used today by professionals and consumers in more than forty-five countries worldwide to improve the quality and success of their work while reducing water consumption, in landscaping, sport and golf turf, horticulture, reforestation and gardening. The TerraCottem® company manufactures the TerraCottem soil conditioner and distributes the product through a network of distributors in Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, and North and South America. To ensure that the product remains at the forefront of the industry, research and development on improving the TerraCottem® mixture continues. This research and development is carried out in conjunction with independent national research facilities in Belgium.

How does it work?

By absorbing water and nutrients that would normally be lost to runoff or evaporation and providing plants and turf with a consistent, readily available source, TerraCottem® improves the water retention capacity of soils and growing media, improving soil structure and aeration, increasing root growth, enhancing fertilizer availability and reducing the occurance of transplantation shock, water stress and resultant plant loss. The product is specially suited for use in degraded or problematic soils and root zones with little capillarity, eg. sandy soils, containers, pots, industrial or municipal areas where little or no maintenance (irrigation, fertilization, soil treatment) is performed, and to improve the quality and performance of growing media.

The product

A mixture of:
- The best-performing potassium-based organic hydroabsorbent polymers currently available, to increase the capacity of soils or substrates to retain and provide water and nutrients.
- A starter component of soluble and slow-release mineral and organic fertilizers, which play an important role during the initial growth phase, and for many months after.
- Trace amounts of a growth stimulating agent to encourage extensive root development in the initial growth phase
- A carrier material allows homogeneous distribution of all components.

Speaker Profile
Davy Ottevaere is the R&D Manager at TerraCottem NV, located in Zulte, Belgium. The company has a second office, TerraCottem Internacional SL, in Benalup (Cadiz), Spain. He graduated in 2000 as bio-engineer in soil and water management from the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering at at the University of Ghent, Belgium. He is currently preparing for a PhD degree at the same university with a study on ‘Soil Physical and Soil Mechanical Characteristics of Sand Blends and Sand Fractions’. MSc. Davy Ottevaere joined TerraCottem NV in 2000. His task is threefold: R&D on the soil conditioner TerraCottem® to ensure that the product remains at the forefront of the industry. This research and development is carried out in conjunction with independent national research facilities in Belgium. A second aspect is project management of worldwide showcases of the usage of TerraCottem® in various applications and for 2008 priority will be given to potential investors in Jatropha curcas plantations on degraded land so that competition with the human food sector can be avoided. Finally, technical support is given to the commercial department in both offices and to their agents in more than 40 countries. Davy is also board member of Terr@dialoog, a non-profit development cooperation organisation, with focus on soil improvement for school gardens, women’s vegetable gardens and reforestation projects.

JatrophaWorld 2008 Miami Speaker
Day 2 – Wednesday, June 11
12.15 INTERACTIVE PANEL: PLANTATION MANAGEMENT & HARVESTING
• Making mechanisation a reality - development of mechanical seed sowing and harvesting

JatrophaWorld 2008 is a showcase of all the latest trends and shifts occurring in the Jatropha value chain, bringing together on a single platform, the best expertise to discuss and analyze the present and future dynamics of Jatropha from a technological and socio-economic angle. To find more about JatrophaWorld in Miami from June 9 to 11, 2008, please visit http://www.futureenergyevents.com/jatropha/.