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The Sustainable Ecological Earth Regeneration (SEER) Centre, an innovative Perthshire environmental organisation, will hold its second annual conference on the 17th September 2003.
Supported by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) the two-day event will emphasise the potential benefits of using ‘rock dust’ from the quarrying industry as a natural fertiliser or compost feedstock for farmers, gardeners and horticulturalists
The SEER Centre was set up to research and promote soil regeneration techniques. This ground-breaking form of agriculture is free of added chemicals, environmentally-friendly and is sowing the seeds of change for sustainable land management in Scotland. Cameron & Moira Thompson, the Centre’s co-founders, will welcome guest speakers including, Councillor Julia Sturrock, Convener: Environment & Consumer Protection, Dundee City Council, and Rob Morris, SEPA’s Land Unit Manager
Confirmation of the value of the work being pioneered at the SEER Centre came in the form of a recent research award of over £95,000. This will be invested in soil fertility trials over an acre of land in rural Perthshire.
Commenting on the work of the centre, SEPA’s Rob Morris said: “The profile and importance of protecting and regenerating soils is increasing. Scotland’s soils are an important and essentially non-renewable resource. They support the natural vegetation, agriculture and forestry upon which people and wildlife depend, and its sustainable management is crucial. SEPA supports the work that the SEER Centre is carrying out as it brings into focus the benefits of a healthy soil that is kept in good heart.”
ENDS
Notes:
- Agriculture has been identified as one of the five key topics for discussion at the Earth Summit ( World Summit on Sustainable Development) in Johannesburg this month. This event will bring together tens of thousands of participants, focus the world's attention and direct action toward meeting difficult challenges, including improving people's lives and conserving our natural resources in a world that is growing in population, with ever-increasing demands for food, water, shelter, sanitation, energy, health services and economic security.
- Soil remineralisation is a regenerative process involving the use of rock dusts and municipal composts to produce healthy and productive soil.
- Remineralised soils produce high quality, healthy crops and higher yields. Such soils can have a potentially crucial role in naturally recycling atmospheric carbon – one of the key drivers for climate change.
- For more information on the SEER Centre Trust contact Moira Thomson on tel/fax: 01250 881 486 / www.seercentre.org.uk or Clara Mitchell from SEPA on 01786 452515.
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