In the 1990s an organic product appeared in the news, backed by Joanna Lumley, that could be used to clear oil spills and make desert areas arable. What was it called and what became of it?

Watchkeeper

It is called Frogmat and was last heard of in Australia. http://www.frogmat.com.au/name.htm See also: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg13718581.100-shetlanders-roll-out-the-straw-carpet.html http://www.akator.net/company/frogmat-international-holdings-limited_561629.html "10/17/2008 288b DIRECTOR RESIGNED JOANNA LUMLEY" http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/0718146824 "Having read this book [autobiography No Room for Secrets] I feel new respect for Ms Lumley - and I respected her before. She is many things: an intrepid traveller, unpretentious about everything, hands-on when it comes to supporting inventive projects (the Frogmat stuff is interesting) ..." Sep 22 09, 9:39 AM

gmackematix

No clutching at straws there. Your absorbing reply gets a yay! So Kenneth Frogman, the inventor, and Joanna Lumley both resigned as directors last year and this great environmental invention for mopping oil and irrigating is now a landscaping tool in Western Australia. Oh well, seemed like a good idea at the time. Sep 24 09, 5:11 PM

queproblema

Whoops, Ken doesn't go blub-blub-blub into the deep, he leaps. "The manufacturing plant used to make soil stabilization matting was developed in the United Kingdom by a Mr Ken Frogbrook. Hence the name FROGMAT." http://www.frogmat.com.au/name.htm Sep 24 09, 6:31 PM