A team of scientists led by Torleiv Bilstad at the University of Stavanger in Rogaland County, Norway has developed a membrane made from organic wastes that allows plant roots to absorb and retain more water in desert soil. The membrane -- made of seaweed, chicken bones, manure, eggshells, or other wastes -- comes in powdered form and is simply mixed with water and spread around seedlings. In field testing in Nigeria, it cut irrigation needs by 30-50%. Additional trials will soon take place in Algeria and arid zones of western Europe.