The science of sustainable farming
Water buffalo: what shape do you need for a milker? A large group of C21 teachers enjoyed a memorable day at Laverstoke Park Farm http://www.laverstokepark.co.uk/lpec on Tuesday 30 June. They were given an extraordinary insight into a scientific approach to agriculture on a farm based on organic and biodynamic methods. The farmers challenge conventional thinking by using sophisticated analytical instruments to study its soils while applying homeopathic vaccination to protect its cattle.
HLC and HPLC coupled with mass spectrometry are used to monitor the concentrations in soils of many of the elements in the periodic table, while microscopy is used to count the beneficial and harmful microorganisms present. Soil fertility is maintained mainly by large scale composting of organic waste from local authorities to give a manure that is rich in the microbes that can help to release nutrients in soil minerals while also protecting plants from disease.
Gilt and piglets The farm has a herd of 1600 water buffalo (the largest in the UK) and supplies mozzarella to a supermarket chain. It also breeds diary and beef cattle as well as sheep, pigs and hens. The teachers were shown the box of tricks for AI in cattle and given a demonstration (in the absence of a cow) of the subtleties of the technique.
The farm is committed to education and has excellent facilities for teachers and their classes. A visit would be highly relevant to module C3 'Food matters' in GCSE Science and the 'Agriculture & food' module in GCSE Additional Applied Science. There is no shortage of starting points for case studies and work-related reports.
Andrew Hunt
Learning about sheep and organic grassland
