Bio-VegeGrout (VG3S) is an eco-engineered, nature-based slope stabilisation and ground-protection solution aligned with MySTIE Technology Drivers in Advanced Materials, Sustainable Engineering, and Climate Resilience, as well as the Socioeconomic Drivers of Disaster Risk Reduction, Sustainable Infrastructure, and Community Well-Being.
Slope failures and shallow landslides commonly occur when intense rainfall infiltrates the ground, causing water to accumulate within soil pores and increasing pore water pressure. This process reduces soil strength and can lead to cracking or failure of conventional concrete-based slope protection systems. As climate change intensifies rainfall patterns, these failures increasingly threaten infrastructure, utility corridors, and hillside communities.
Bio-VegeGrout addresses this challenge by improving soil strength through bio-engineered ground treatment rather than relying on rigid, carbon-intensive structures. The system combines bio-binder materials derived from agricultural and vegetable waste, natural fibres, and soil conditioning agents to enhance soil cohesion, regulate water movement, and reduce rainfall-induced pore pressure that triggers slope instability. This supports MySTIE’s emphasis on circular economy innovation and low-carbon technology adoption.
A key scientific innovation is biomineralization, where beneficial microorganisms such as Leuconostoc mesenteroides induce calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) formation within the soil matrix. This natural bio-cementation strengthens soils and soft rocks while maintaining balanced permeability. The solution also exhibits a self-healing capability, allowing minor cracks to gradually re-bond over time.
Bio-VegeGrout provides infrastructure owners, utilities, local authorities, and communities with a scalable, cost-effective, and environmentally compatible solution for long-term slope resilience, directly supporting MySTIE’s goal of resilient, sustainable national development.
