03/05/2011

The hedge clippings and weeds from gardens could help put food on tables as farmers are are experimenting with municipal compost as the answer to increasing restrictions on non-renewable fertilisers.

Demand for fertilisers from finite resources mean that they will run out in the future, leaving farmers seeking alternatives to keep the food supply chain going. Municipal compost may not only provide a ready solution for farmers but its production also helps meet requirements on councils to recycle growing percentages of household waste.

Leading the way in the use of sustainable fertilisers is The James Hutton Institute, in Scotland, where more than 700 tons of Discovery Compost, produced by Dundee City Council, has been spread on experimental fields at the Centre for Sustainable Cropping. The Institute’s experiments coincide with France’s reintroduction of ‘Natural preparations’ such as nettle manure for use as fertilisers.

The centre, at Balruddery Farm to the west of Dundee, is the focus of long-term research into sustainable farming methods and compost spreading will take place on one half of the experimental fields to evaluate its effectiveness compared to more conventional methods being used on the other half of each field. The James Hutton Institute’s Professor Geoff Squire explained that using compost would not only help farming be more sustainable but agriculture could also be a productive outlet for the increasing mountains of urban waste.

Professor Squire said, “Our trials with Discovery Compost are an important step towards reducing the loss of valuable nutrients from the land to the oceans. Massive recycling of wastes from towns and cities to agricultural fields will be essential if food production is to be maintained through the coming decades. Composted urban waste will increase the carbon held in agricultural land, help reverse long term declines in soil quality and build up stores of essential nutrients for future crops.”

Jimmy Black, Convener of Dundee City Council's environment services committee, added, "I am delighted that we have been able to help out the Institute with the provision of Discovery Compost for them to use in these experimental fields. By doing so they can be sure that they are getting a completely sustainable fertiliser, from 100% local sources thats meet all of the current standards.

"Gardeners have always known the value of Discovery Compost - it's a traditional way to improve the soil. If we can help local farmers avoid chemical fertilisers and save money, then everyone wins.”