Bob Kalk

South Pole inhabitants can now indulge on self-grown, fresh veggies, instead of living off canned and frozen cuisine. Gene Giacomelli, director of the controlled environment agriculture program, built a growth chamber that is currently producing lettuce and other goodies at the South Pole. He also works on another chamber that is planned to go to … Read more

While many of today’s rivers, lakes and groundwater reservoirs continue to be overexploited, a new report launched today by leading scientists at the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development warns that unless steps are taken to improve the way water is managed, twice the world’s current water consumption may be needed by 2050 to feed … Read more

AGRICULTURE dominates land use and has a fundamental role in maintaining the countryside and protecting the environment. The development of intensive farming practices and the increased use of agrochemicals, which more than quadrupled food production last century, has resulted in potential environmental problems, which are being addressed by codes of good practice and a more … Read more

“Mad cow is telling us something,” Mike Eliason said. “I think mad cow is a wake-up call to say there’s a better way,” to raise and eat cattle.The cattle in Mike Eliason’s organic herd are raised on a chemical-free grass acreage. On his farm near Centerville, Eliason has been working on producing all-natural beef for … Read more

The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a second EU programme for the conservation, characterisation, collection and use of genetic resources in agriculture. The new programme, covering the period 2004-2006, will promote genetic diversity and the exchange of information including close co-ordination between Member States and between the Member States and the European Commission … Read more

A STATE-of-the-art computerised system has been installed at Blackmans Point where a new 3000 square metre greenhouse is embracing new technology to grow hydroponic tomatoes. Some 7000 tomato plants were planted recently and are being computer-control fed and watered every hour between 7am and 10pm with each plant getting exactly the right amount or nutrients. … Read more

It’s ancient speculation. Surely, even the earliest humans looked to the stars and wondered if perhaps somewhere “out there” someone was looking back at them. President George W. Bush has recently proposed a new initiative to build a moon base as a precursor to a manned mission to Mars. However, in spite of these lofty … Read more

Northshore High junior Beau Arieux said he knew nothing of aquaponics or hydroponics before enrolling in the school’s agriscience education class two years ago. Now he can tell you in detail how to grow plants without soil — hydroponics — and how fish wastewater can be used in an enclosed system to do the same … Read more

Ken Konschel, 49, of Empangeni in KwaZulu-Natal, has won the Inventor Award from the International Foundation for Science in Sweden for his self-sustaining farm on which fish, vegetables, chicken and worms feed off each other. A series of pipes connects a 40 000-litre fish tank to a hydroponic farm. Waste from fish is used as … Read more

NORTH East Water is leading a series of scientific trials that will see hydroponic lettuces grown with recycled water. Trial co-ordinator Ms Brooke Anderson said the project would involve growing 300 plants with three different water sources: class A water which is high-quality recycled water from waste water treatment, class C which is lower quality … Read more