With support from VentureWell, Niesenbaum and students at Muhlenberg College developed SoilPop, a 3-in-1 soil amendment composed of organic ingredients. SoilPop is designed to provide essential nutrients to crops and garden plants, suppress pests and plant pathogens, and support soil regeneration. Its popsicle-like form, which includes a biodegradable stick, allows for straightforward placement into the soil and inspired the product’s name.
The initial objective was to develop SoilPop as a hybrid social enterprise, with commercial sales to home gardeners generating revenue to support nonprofit agricultural initiatives in developing regions. Although the for-profit enterprise has not yet been established, SoilPop has been implemented in Senegal through the Center for Regenerative Agriculture (CRARA). For this context, the formulation was modified to align with regenerative agricultural practices commonly being implemented in Senegal. Field trials are currently underway at CRARA’s experimental farm in Thiès to evaluate the efficacy of this adapted SoilPop formulation.
To learn more about field trials in Sengal, click here.
