Research underway that could potentially divert thousands of piles of nursery vegetable production permissive waste from landfills is show up early promising results . Walker Industries ( Walker ) has partnered with Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers ( OGVG ) on a undertaking to evaluate the feasibleness of collect and recycling pass spring up media from cultivator in the Leamington / Kingsville domain .
Funded in part through the Greenhouse Competitiveness and Innovation Initiative ( GCII ) administered by the Agricultural Adaptation Council ( AAC ) , the research also imply essay Walker ’s composting process to determine whether it can successfully inactivate sure viruses like the Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus ( ToBRFV ) . ToBRFV is a extremely destructive plant pathogen that can cause severe production losses in affect crops ; it has diffuse to all the major greenhouse tomato growing regions of the world .
Stonewool ( also look up to as rockwool ) is one of the main substrates used by greenhouse vegetable growers in Canada to raise their crop . A mineral - base merchandise spin into wool and enwrap in plastic , it provides social organization for the roots of plant grown hydroponically ( without dirt ) .
Once used , most stonewool “ slabs ” currently cease up in landfill , as do traditionally compostable material like pepper and tomato vines to prevent the spread of ToBRFV .
mental image : compost stonewool , leaf and railyard waste . Stonewool was tally at a ratio of 20 % by volume . pic courtesy of Walker .
Eliminate waste“The goal is to eliminate the disposal of the played out growing media slab and instead change by reversal that dissipation into useable products . At the same time , we want to make trusted that we can compost this material properly and effectively destruct any plant viruses , so we do n’t inadvertently spread them around , ” state Geoff Boyd , Vice President of Resource Recovery at Walker .
The inquiry team is conducting trials to discriminate the charge plate that surrounds the stonewool slabs and process the remaining material into a clean and usable product that is detached of plastic contamination . The work on stonewool is then compost in Walker ’s unchanging aerated compost organization . Prior to placement in the compost row , the infected fabric is insure in a specifically formulate vessel that allows the heat and breeze to make pass through but prevents the stonewool from hail into contact with the other stuff in the compost row .
After the compost process is fill in , a bioassay is used to determine if compost was effective in deactivate the virus . sampling of tomato tissue paper from the bioassay are air to a examination lab to detect for the presence or absence seizure of the computer virus .
deactivate viruses“So far , the effect are positive on the processing . We are now wait on lab results from the bioassay tissue samples , ” Boyd says , contribute he desire to have the project wrapped up with last solvent by this fall .
Once it is rise that compost successfully inactivate ToBRFV , the next step is to square off the best app for the finish compost ware . To ultimately be successful , such a recycling and waste reduction speculation must be be competitive to some arcdegree with traditional landfill disposal for it to make sense for nursery growers , but he ’s hopeful that will be achieve .
“ hold back waste out of landfill is incredibly important and successful project upshot could provide a solvent to aid greenhouse raiser increase the sustainability and competitiveness of their operations , ” say AAC Chair Doug Alexander . “ This project is an excellent example of a collaboration between grower and a business sector to trial innovative solutions that will put up to long - term sustainability of the sphere . ”
According to Boyd , the GCII financing was invaluable to help Walker , a company that commonly deals in food and grounds waste , get this labor off the ground in a meaningful means and conduct extensive trials and examination that would n’t otherwise have been potential .
PartnersGrodan , a manufacturer of stonewool based in Milton , has also been an active player in the labor and has worked collaboratively with Walker on addressing potential solution .
“ We are tremendously mad about these initial results . Potential solutions like this opening are critical in stopping the spread of the rugose computer virus and diverting materials from the landfill , ” says Yianni Monahan , ware Lifecycle Manager – North America , Grodan . “ This project and Grodan ’s collaboration with organisation like Walker are essential steps in foster the most sustainable growing practices for the nursery raiser of Ontario . ”
“ Lake Ontario - free-base agri - food inquiry is crucial for the sector , ” say Lisa Thompson , Minister of Agriculture , Food and Rural Affairs . “ enquiry like this will help greenhouse growers make informed decision when seeking innovative root for waste reduction that will meliorate the productivity and sustainability of their operations . ”
This project is support in part through the Greenhouse Competitiveness and Innovation Initiative , a price - portion program fund by the Ontario Government and delivered by the Agricultural Adaptation Council , on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture , Food and Rural Affairs ( OMAFRA ) .
For more info : Laura FeilAgricultural Adaptation Council381 Elmira Road North , Unit 1Guelph , ON N1 K 1H3[email protected]adaptcouncil.org
