In response to the growing shortages of base production materials for the nursery industry, The University of Western Australia is leading an innovative project to develop sustainable potting mix derived from organic waste resources.
The experiment, by visiting German student Tom Wagner under the supervision of UWA Research Fellow Dr Bede Mickan and assisted by technician Evonne Walker, is part of a broader project funded by the ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia’s Biosolids Resource.
UWA research fellow Dr Mickan, who works with Australian family-owned garden products manufacturer Richgro as part of an industry partnership, said the project showcased the collaborative efforts between industry and academia to address material shortages and promote sustainability in the garden products industry.
Image: Senior members of UWA, researchers, and executives from Richgro at the glasshouse tour.
“Pine bark is the main substrate used as potting mix, and production material shortages are due to the fact that less timber mills were planted years ago in favour of cheap imports,” he said.
“Australia is growing in population and the garden products industry needs to match demand, and we can only do this with organic waste materials due to a reduction in supply of pine bark material.
“Through this project, we are taking the proactive approach so there is minimal impact to the sector getting ahead of the curve.”
Recently, a UWA glasshouse tour highlighted the latest research achievements to senior members of the University and executives from Richgro.
Attendees included Head of the UWA School of Agriculture and Environment Associate Professor Matthias Leopold, chief investigator Professor Megan Ryan, and Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Colmer.
Richgro was represented by Managing Director Tim Richards, Chair Geoff Richards, Executive Operations Manager Troy Franks, and Chief Financial Officer Alan Graham.
The tour featured vibrant petunias, a widely sold plant species in the home gardening marketplace, grown in sustainable potting media derived from food waste and various carbon sources from the Perth metropolitan area.