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permaculture - Re: [permaculture] TESTS & EQUIPMENT required for a functional SUSTAINABLE AG LAB?

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  • From: Douglas Hinds <cedecor@gmx.net>
  • To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [permaculture] TESTS & EQUIPMENT required for a functional SUSTAINABLE AG LAB?
  • Date: Sun, 03 Mar 2013 21:14:28 -0600

On 03/03/2013 03:25 PM, Chris Carnevale wrote:
Hi Douglas,

I'm not sure about what kind of equipment you would need, but certainly
soil testing would be important.

Particularly to quantify the presence of nutritional elements and the microorganisms that constitute the soil food web.

I would also like to be able to identify the substances being created by those organisms, the activity of each substance and define the conditions required for the production of same.

If seed regulation is something you want to do, you might want the capacity
to test the viability of batches of seeds.

Good idea.

A germplasm repository would be very helpful (similar to the
University of California germplasm repository).

Another good idea. (A friend of mine is in charge of the germ-plasm bank of the National Forestry Institute located in this city, so I should be able to calculate what that would take. Also, when coordinating with an existing external facility is advisable we can outsource that part of our labors).
If you want to conduct research at the laboratory, a breeding program/variety
trials for your
locale would be valuable.

We are in an urban setting but the University (a partner in this venture) has it's own experimental farms.

Thanks for the ideas, Chris.

Douglas Hinds
Guadalajara

Chris Carnevale
Charleston, South Carolina

On Sun, Mar 3, 2013 at 10:17 AM, Douglas Hinds <cedecor@gmx.net> wrote:

Farmers, Academics and Rural Development Specialists:

The Alliance for Social and Environmental Responsibility in Development
(formed by the State Biological and Agricultural Science Faculty, the
two major Collective, Independent and Indigenous Farm Organizations and
the Center for Community and Rural Development), have decided to
collaborate and reopen lab facilities closed a few years ago by Mexico's
worst ex-Secretary of Agriculture and increase the services offered, to
support the needs of Permaculture, Organic and Fair Trade Farmers.

To that end, I am soliciting opinions regarding the Tests and Equipment
required to perform an optimally useful and comprehensive service in
support of a Sustainable, Equitable and Integral Society, in which both
farmers and consumers have access to the information they need to be
aware of what the food they consume actually contains.

Identifying the variables present in the Environment food is grown in
(soil, water, beneficial and pathogenic organisms present, the
substances those organisms produce and the conditions they require to do
their work) are valuable adjuncts to farming and help assure desireable
results.

The studies performed should also be able to determine whether
transgenic genes and / or toxic chemicals are present in tissue, soil or
water samples, as well as appraise the soils fertility and determine
which (if any) nutritional elements are lacking for optimal as well as
any other factors relevant to granting or denying organic certification.

In conclusion:

Which kinds of analsysis should be offerred by a competent Agricultural
Laboratory in support of Organic, Biologically Integrated, and / or
Sustainable Farming Systems?

And

What equipment is best suited for carrying out that purpose?

Thanks in advance for your creative and / or constructive suggestions.

Douglas Hinds

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