The keratin-based substrate is biodegradable, eco-friendly, sustainable, and could revolutionize urban farming.

In a lab at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, scientists have been growing crops — leafy vegetables, micro greens, rocket leaves, and the Chinese cabbage bok choy — using discarded hair collected from salon floors.

Doesn't sound too appetizing, does it?

Allow us to explain. Researchers created the growth medium used in their urban farming —known as hydroponics substrates—using keratin extracted from the human hair.

In hydroponics, crops are grown without soil. Instead, a substrate, such as coir or rock wool, that acts as a support structure and reservoir for water and nutrients is used to help grow crops for human consumption.