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We are proud to announce that in Clay Lyle Entomology complex at Mississippi State University we have succesful reared 5 generations of H. illucens in captivity

in Biodiesel Biomass to Liquid Sustainable Fisheries Agri Waste Management Bioremediation

I have a design for a self sustaining power plant that good these functions.

in Algae Fuels Organic Farming

Spain’s ULMA Agrícola consortium and Tecnalia research center have developed a photovoltaic solar panel for greenhouses that generates electricity without an adverse effect on the crops growing inside.

Read More: http://cleantechnica.com/2012/01/16/new-pv-panel-shows-promise-for-solar-green-house-in-spain-source/

in Solar PV Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry

Organic agriculture, even when produced on large-scale farms that are not necessarily sustainable, is still ultimately better for the environment than conventional agriculture, according to most experts. But conventional agriculture is not a baseline to be working from. A small car produces fewer emissions than a large SUV, but that doesn't mean everyone should be looking to cars as a sustainable means of transportation.


http://www.treehugger.com/green-food/organic-agriculture-bad-environment-another-reason-eat-locally.html?campaign=daily_nl

in Organic Farming

V. Deepan and R. Muthukumar aim to document organic farming through the length and breadth of the country.

It would be a bike journey across India, inspired by “The Motorcycle Diaries”. Deepan was also fascinated by organic farming, and the lifestyle of tribals and their farming practices, so he worked the journey around this concept. Goan environmentalist Claude Alvares' book that listed India's organic farmers was his guide.

By the time they set out on July 25, 2011 at 8.30 a.m. from Coimbatore, the project had cost them close to Rs. 8 lakh. They have equipped themselves with a Dell laptop, a Canon 7D, Sony high-definition handycam, a tent, and their companion through the trip — a souped-up 2006 Royal Enfield.

Deepan and Muthu decided to cover 28 States, spend at least a fortnight in each one, visit organic farmers, and document their way of life. They will cover nearly 40,000 km, across hills and vales, jungles and streams, with 100-kg backpacks in tow.

Nearly two weeks into their trip, the friends have visited farms in Pollachi, Udumalpet, Mettupalayam, Gobichettipalayam, Sathyamnagalam, Namakkal, Karur and Trichy, documenting unique organic farming practices. Muthu and Deepan, who normally ride from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., don't travel with a fixed plan. During the course of their journey, the duo discovered that organic farmers were not a minority.

After the trip, the friends want to bring out a reference manual to link all organic farmers, as also a documentary of their life-changing journey.

Their dream? That they get to set up an organic commune on the lines of the Tibetan settlement near Thimbam Ghats; where life is in consonance with Nature.

http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article2321934.ece

in Organic Farming

Srinivasamurthy, a farmer from Siddanahundi in T Narasipur taluk, supplies 200 varieties of indigenous paddy grown in his one acre plot through organic farming. He was inspired to take up farming after he read books on agriculture, and the problems being faced by agrarians due to seasonal vagaries. He says, “Once, I came across a book written by Dr Richarya which stated that India had at one time more than 4 lakh varieties of paddy. This inspired me to search for paddy varieties following which I toured Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Kerala and Orissa.”

He then started growing the paddy in his land, which he irrigates with water from river Cauvery, and till date has grown more than 200 variants of rice, including Athi Karaya, Sannakki, Ratna Choodi, Ambe Mohara and Navara, which can be harvested between two to four-and-a-half months.
This farming enthusiast says that his mission earns him a profit of Rs 80-90,000.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/this-man-protects-indias-paddy-variants/214669-60-115.html

in Organic Farming

Participants plant rice on the Roppongi Hills' rooftop rice field, in Tokyo, in 2008. Around 130 participated in the rice planting event, held on the top of the building, which was built for environmental education purposes, and also helps to keep down electricity usage as the garden on the roof helps to insulate the structure in summer.

in Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry Green Buildings

Salt-tolerant crops show higher capacity for carbon fixation.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111212124703.htm?utm_source=feedburner

in Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry CO2 Sequestration

When farmers across the country are facing tough times owing to crop failure or low yield, this 57-year-old from Chamarajanagar district with his perseverance and hard work has made a difference in the field of agriculture.

The success story of Channabasavaradhya from Kempanapalya village in Kollegal taluk is an eye opener for those who think that farming is no longer a profitable venture.

Channabasavaradhya is cultivating more than 30 varieties of crops in a small patch of six acres. He has developed a small forest on half-an-acre of land. What’s interesting is that he has achieved this rare feat all through organic farming.

The farmer, who has studied only up to 7th standard, was quick to realise the hazards of pesticide within a few years of taking up agriculture in the 1970s. He said goodbye to modern agriculture and took up organic farming, which has got him more profit with less investment.

With only one pump set to irrigate his six acres, he grows more than 30 crops like coconut, banana, turmeric, ginger, pepper, garlic, ladies finger, ragi, paddy, wheat, coffee, betel nut leaves, arecanut, groundnut, orange, pomegranate, sweet lime, chikoo, papaya, lime, tomato, beans, horsegram, cucumber and varieties of greens.

Besides taking care of his family requirements, he also earns a good profit. He even grows the fodder and compost fertiliser required for his cattle and land. By investing Rs 10,000 per acre, he earns more than Rs 60,000 profit for every crop because of the good market for organic products.

He is fulfilling his father Channavera Aradhya’s aspiration by taking up organic farming for more than 25 years. He has developed a small forest in half-an-acre, growing teak, tamarind, neem, bamboo and a banyan tree. He did not purchase a single log of timber to build his house and used his own trees for doors, windows and furniture.

Twice a year he organises seminars on organic farming at his field, inviting experts to create awareness and inspire the farming community.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/reaping-the-harvest-of-hard-work/213160-60-115.html

in Organic Farming

Switzerland is one of the pioneering countries of organic farming. Today it has one of the highest proportions of organic agricultural land in the world- 11%.
The Swiss law requires all agricultural subsidies to be contingent on minimum ecological standards. This agro-environmental policy is based on a referendum from 1996. The minimum ecological standards require crop rotations with at least four crops, measures against soil erosion, equilibrium in the nutritional balance and high biodiversity on 7% of the agricultural area.
Switzerland has a well-established organic sector with over 6000 organic farms, 200 biodynamic farms and approximately 11% of the agricultural land.
Like other European countries, Switzerland has more than 5% of their agricultural land in organic production.
Wheat yields in biodynamic and organic systems are 80% or more of conventional systems; yields of potato tubers are 60% or more of conventional.
Soil fertility has been greatly enhanced on biodynamic and organic farms, as indicated by numbers of earthworms and a number of biological activity measurements. Diversity of organisms was increased in organic and especially biodynamic systems relative to conventional systems. Soil organism activity continued to increase in organic systems for more than 20 years after conversion to organic. System performance continued to improve over this time.
Despite favourable conditions, the pest pressure is limited on farms due to a strict crop rotation and relatively small fields separated from each other by hedges and bush strips.
The Swiss organic market is now 1.4 billion Swiss francs or 0.9 billion Euros. The sales of organic products have been continually growing in the past years, and the market share of organic products is now 4.9%.


http://thecitizen.co.tz/business/-/17883-organic-farms-lesson-from-swiss-success

in Organic Farming