Let's face it, because of Montana's shorter growing seasons, watermelons aren't really our thing.

But it can be done, and it is being done. And maybe with the help of some modern horticultural high-tech happenings, there could be a little extra incentive for the Watermelon Crawl (thanks, country singer Tracy Byrd).

Montana's Northern Ag News Network reports that a startup in Indiana is looking to revolutionize sustainable manufacturing. AgroRenew is targeting the plastics industry by turning watermelon waste into biodegradable plastics. AgroRenew just took a giant step forward by breaking ground on its new $83 million facility in southern Indiana, moving it closer to large-scale production.

The plant will span 18,000 square meters on a site of over 8 hectares and is expected to employ over 250 jobs. In addition to watermelon waste, there are plans to use cantaloupes and pumpkins as raw materials for the bioplastics, using a wide range of agricultural waste.

AgroRenew told Northern Ag Net that the company will begin testing products in the first quarter of 2025. Product demand is currently so high that customers have indicated they are willing to purchase test products.

WHAT PLANTED THE WATERMELON THOUGHT SEED?

In collaboration with local farmers, AgroRenew worked to discover large amounts of watermelon waste. Experiments revealed that watermelon has chemical properties that can be used as one of the ingredients to produce 100 percent biodegradable plastic. Food scientists and chemical engineers were able to collaborate and develop biodegradable plastics.

As the project progresses, the company expects transformative impacts on both the local economy and global sustainability efforts.

Who knows, maybe your humble watermelon patch could be part of the sustainable future? Find out more about AgroRenew here.