Green Group discussion
The Plant World
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Dandelion rubber
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For the most part weeds are an unregulated agricultural product that people are usually trying to get rid of.Weeds play an important part in the soil of natural ecosystems, as well as providing support for the insect world which interacts with other communities.
Everything we use the Natural World for becomes some kind of energy and weeds are probably a good source of energy. As the expression goes they grow like weeds.
Mod
"Rubber is found in all vehicle tires. The higher the load-bearing capacity of the tire, the higher the proportion of rubber. But it is not only the overexploitation of nature that is a problem. The rubber plantations themselves are susceptible to fungi. This is why rubber cultivation has now shifted from South America to South East Asia. Of course, it cannot be ruled out that fungal infestation will also occur here. And then the industry would have a problem.
Dandelion rubber still in the research phase
"I don't see us as saviors. I see us more as a supplement," says Eickmeyer, referring to his dandelion crossings. The entrepreneur senses that there is a desire for alternatives. "There are a lot of inquiries. At the moment, however, the whole thing is still at the research stage. We don't yet have the rubber yields we need to make the whole thing economically viable."
First bicycle tires made from dandelion rubber
At the moment, nobody is driving around in a car with dandelion rubber. "But you can now buy bicycle tires. Small series are being produced." Together with a consortium led by tire manufacturer Continental, Eickmeyer is driving research forward. There is international competition, but "we are ahead in terms of rubber content. We've done a good job there in recent years." The proportion of dandelion roots is now between ten and 20 percent. The aim now is to generate larger, thicker roots."
Original article in German.
https://www.br.de/nachrichten/bayern/...