London Conference

[Guest guest]

This is an A4 sheet I have submitted to the ADAS office for inclusion in a

general handout binder for SCI (Society of Chemical Industry) conference

participants later this month. Their society slogan is 'Application of

chemistry and related sciences for the public benefit'..... should be

interesting.

 

The Conference however is named: 'Organic Farming: Inpmlications for the

Emvironment.'

 

Speakers include:

Prof. Martin Wolfe, Elm Farm Research Centre.

Roger Unwin, Farm and Rural Countryside Agency.

Dr. Nicholas Lampkin, (Organic Farming, 1991) Welsh Institute of Rural

Studies.

Dr. Sarah Gardener, ADAS.

Ms. Lois Philips, Elm Farm Research Centre.

Dr. Margi Lennartsson, Henry Doubleday Research Assn.

Dr. Elizabeth Stockdale, IACR Rothamstead Research Station.

 

 

Project by Environmental Consultant Richard B.L. Higgins NDA., Perm Des.

Teacher and presenter of the fully organic concept in Europe and India.

 

Mr. Richard Higgins has researched in great detail the works of Sir Albert

Howard C.I.E. who worked in India from 1905 - 1931 proving that healthy

crops do not need any chemical applications to ward off disease or improve

production. He was indeed knighted for his contribution to humanity at

large. One of his main topics was the hygienic disposal and utilisation of

human wastes or what he otherwise called habitation wastes. One main feature

of this method of disposal of human waste is the massive saving of drinking

quality water and in the end result the water retaining capacity of an

improved top soil. These factors alone bring this subject into the category

of a major world resource and renewable energy.

 

Being one of the direct causes of the formation of the Soil Association

working in conjunction with Lady Eve Balfour Sir Albert's studies, he feels,

ought to be completely revived.

 

It seems that his method of composting, The Indore (thermophylic) method,

has indeed been largely forgotten - the only place he has discovered it's

continued practise is at the Home of Mary Langham, a personal friend to Sir

Albert, who lives near Castle Carey, in Somerset.

 

Sir Albert's contention was that whether you use cow dung as a starter for

good compost or whether you use human effluent the effect is the same; the

introduction of billions of micro-organisms. Owing to the success of the

Indore system that subsequently spread all over the world, and the results

of health studies on food produced by that system a certain direction was

made for the hygienic disposal of human effluent especially in these modern

times when so many are concerned with health and optimum environment

friendly methods. With the EC regulations that state no more sewage is to be

dumped into the sea after 1999, it would appear that the Organic industry

should address their share of the problem. Mr. Higgins points out that in

the chain of recycling nutrients there is a missing link in the organic

system of agriculture and that is the human element. He supports the idea

with the aphorism: All that is taken from the earth by man should be

returned to it by him, thus completing the cycle of this important chain.

His research shows that the great nutritionists of the time that Sir Albert

was with us agreed with the principle and in their view in really healthy

soil, achieved through the whole concept of complete recycling, all

minerals, vitamins and proteins needed for proper human development become

manifest and that these elements do not otherwise appear in the plant.

Therefore he is currently working with UKROFS and with the other 'organic

sectors bodies' to come to a conclusion that may be presentable at EC level

with a view to change the current standard.