A saline grown stinging nettle

Europe faces growing challenges after long dependence on its allies. If that support disappears, how will it remain resilient? Our project offers one answer: growing stinging nettles on salt water to produce textiles. Nettle, like flax, provides strong fibers and has a long European history as an emergency textile crop. By developing it alongside flax, we reduce the risk of relying on a single plant.

We focus on land unsuitable for food production, such as PFAS‑contaminated or saline soils. Nettle can extract PFAS, and if we can remove it from the fibers afterward, we can create sustainable textiles while restoring damaged land. We also explore whether nettles can survive on salt or brackish water, potentially even at sea, reducing pressure on farmland and freshwater use.

As a start‑up, we are still in the idea phase and seeking funding to scale our research. With support, we aim to build a new, resilient textile industry.

University of Antwerp (regarding PFAS)
WUR (on producing textile from nettles)

Partners who know a thing about growing crops on saline water.