“The soil is the ‘creative material’ of most of the basic needs of life. Creation starts with a handful of dust.” Dr William A. Albrecht Dr William Albrecht was a man ahead of his time. A good twenty years before the phrase ‘environmental concern’ crept into the USA’s national consciousness, Dr Albrecht was lecturing from…
In the October 2019 issue of Acres U.S.A, consultant Jon Frank explains the pitfalls of the ‘Four Rs’ developed by the fertiliser industry. Frank, the owner of International Ag Labs, based in Minnesota. He is a soil consultant with over 20 years’ experience, and the founder of High Brix Gardens. Like the team at Zylem,…
What do you think of when you imagine farms of the future? Massive underground hydroponic operations run by robots is one way things could go … but could the sustainable future of agriculture actually look a lot smaller and simpler? Current cultural shifts, and even the Coronavirus pandemic, could lead to more and more food…
As the world tries to find a cure for the new Coronavirus and to reduce its spread, many people are asking the question: What caused the disease? And what can we do to avoid repeat pandemics? So far, these are questions that scientists are still struggling to answer. In this article, we look at the…
By now, most of us have seen (or perhaps experienced) the kilometre-long queues of South Africans waiting for food parcels. With the lockdown preventing many businesses from returning to work, many people are without an income and the means to buy food. South Africa’s food wastage facts After witnessing these scenes, you may be surprised…
Graeme Sait is the co-founder of Nutri-Tech Solutions (NTS), a recognised world leader in sustainable agriculture and one of Zylem’s key partners. Graeme is a sought-after keynote speaker at international conferences and is also a published author and popular columnist. In his latest blog series on the NTS blog, Graeme discusses the most common mineral…
When it comes to buying your Easter chocolate, it’s important to look past the cute shapes and shiny packaging, as your brand choice can have more of an impact than you realize. Although chocolate can never be described as completely ‘guilt-free’, it is within your power to choose chocolate brands that support sustainable production and…
An interview with Dr. Zach Bush linking health, agriculture, and human survival Dr. Zach Bush is a certified American triple-board physician focusing on internal medicine, endocrinology, and hospice and palliative care. He currently runs a rural Virginia clinic focusing on plant-based nutrition and holistic health. Dr. Bush was recently interviewed on Acres U.S.A’s ‘Tractor Time’…
“It’s really a lot about soils. It’s a lot about trying to reduce inputs. It’s a lot about reducing our livestock numbers. It’s a lot about reducing food waste…” – Kathleen Merrigan Kathleen Merrigan served as the United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture from 2009 to 2013 and was as recently named the first Executive…
In the summer months, disaster management teams have their hands full as storms rip through areas of South Africa that get summer rainfall. Although most farmers celebrate the rain, hail in South Africa can cause extensive damage to crops and livelihoods. According to a new report from global change expert Nicholas King, the impact of…