DESARROLLO COMUNITARIO SOSTENIBLE, DCS
REPORT OF ACTIVITIES, March - April 2000
Desarrollo Comunitario Sostenible (DCS) began activities on March 20th, 2000. DCS was founded by David Abuchar and Alejandro Rosselli with the objective of creating models of sustainable resource use that can improve the life standard of rural and urban communities of Colombia. DCS only works with clean technologies such as Effective Microorganisms (EM).
FARMERS ASSISTANCE
DCS is offering assistance to farmers in the flower industry in the introduction of EM technology as a tool to reduce pesticide and synthetic fertilizer use in these highly technified production systems. Colombia is the biggest flower producer in the world. Approximately 80% of the flowers commercialized in the United States are grown in Colombia. The flower industry is located mainly on the surroundings of Bogota, where at least 4500ha are producing high quantities of cut flowers year long.
DCS has made contacts with over 6 flower producing companies. DCS usually visits the owner of the farm and explains the potential benefits of using EM. After that, an appointment is made with technical staff members of the farm and DCS offers them an introductory exposition of EM technology which includes a power point presentation and slides. In the visit to the farms, DCS identifies possible applications of EM technology to solve existing problems. Later on, after discussing with the farm managers, a proposal is made to solve a specific problem. DCS thinks that this first approach will open the way for EM technology in such highly technified agroecosystems. At this point, DCS has written two proposals on waste management and one on control of soil borne diseases.
Flores Las Palmas
Flores Las Palmas cultivates 40 ha of rose and alstroemeria under greenhouses and was recently acquired by DOLE. The amount of waste produced in the farm is estimated in 40 tons per week. Flores Las Palmas has a composting area where the material brought in from the fields takes 3 months to decompose and foul odors and fly populations in the area are a nuisance for the workers. DCS prepared a proposal of crop residue management using EM. The proposal includes a demonstration of the management of the wastes produced in one day, turning it into high quality Bokashi, which will be used afterwards as natural fertilizer. [top]
Flores Scarlet
Flores Scarlet has 6 ha of roses and carnations under greenhouses. The cultivation of carnations has become a real challenge due to the heavy soil infestations with the fungus Fusarium. For this reason, Scarlet, as many other farms in the area, are introducing the hydroponic cultivation of carnations, to prevent Fusarium attack. Hydroponic cultivation apparently reduces the problem, but as DCS evidenced in its visit to Flores Scarlet, Fusarium is affecting recently planted carnations that have been completely isolated from the soil. For this reason DCS proposed Scarlet an EM treatment for both hydroponic and soil grown carnations. The proposal includes 90 day EM treatment in the irrigation and observations will be made not only in disease incidence but also in growth and development of the carnations. [top]
Jardines de los Andes
Jardines de los Andes, is a 100 ha flower farm that produces pompon and alstroemeria. This farm treats as compost an average of 100 tons a week, which takes 20 weeks to be ready. DCS recently sent a proposal to Jardines de los Andes to demonstrate the use of EM for compost making. Jardines de los Andes is also willing to try EM as a control for several phytopathogenic fungus that attack their crops. [top]
DEMONSTRATIONS with FUNDASES
In cooperation with FUNDASES, DCS is running two demonstration projects in the fields of odor control and pathogen suppression.
Frigorifico Guadalupe, EM for Odor Control
Frigorifico Guadalupe is the biggest slaughter house of the country. Approximately 900 adult pigs and 900 cows are sacrificed every day. The slaughter house has a building of corrals for the pigs to stand before being sacrificed. This building is located right by a main highway to enter or leave Bogota. The odors produced from this building become a nuisance not only for the users of the highway but also to the employees who work in or close to that building. DCS has designed an EM treatment to reduce the foul odors from this building. Initially one floor will be sprayed with an EM solution three times a week during three months and ammonia measurements will be taken before and after the EM treatment begins. A survey among the workers that asks about odors and eye irritation, is also taking place with each DCS visit. [top]
Las Tortugas Farm, EM use in Vegetable Production
An experiment in pathogen suppression is taking place at Las Tortugas Farm, a 4 ha vegetable farm where a soil fungus (plasmodiosfora) is significantly affecting the production of broccoli and cauliflower. An EM solution was applied to a plot of 330m2 and the soil was covered with a plastic to preserve humid conditions. After two weeks, the area will be planted with onions and test broccoli plants to compare the incidence of the disease in the treated soil against an untreated plot. Different dilutions of EM will also be sprayed in the plot during the growing period of the broccoli plants. Right now, none of the crop residues generated at the farm are used. For this reason, DCS is also assisting Las Tortugas in the making of EM bokashi using crop residues. [top]
CASE STUDIES
DCS is directing the introduction of EM in two milk producing farms:
Palo Negro
Palo Negro is a 25 ha milk farm, located in the south entrance of Bogota. Palo Negro is seriously affected by the low quality of the available water. The latter is responsible for the extremely high costs in medicines, approximately US$300 per month. Previous water quality analysis have been made thanks to the cooperation of FUNDASES. Unfortunately, the farm does not have the infrastructure needed for an EM water treatment, so EM will be added to the drinking water on a daily basis and sprayed on to the pasture plots before the animals come in to eat. The effect of the use of EM will be measured not only in milk production but mainly in disease occurrence among the herd. DCS believes that the use of EM will significantly reduce the need for medicines.
The effect of EM 5 over a grass eating insect (Scolaria sp) that has become a problem for all the milk producing farms of the region, will also be evaluated in a 5000m2 plot. [top]
Las Lomitas
Las Lomitas is a 10 ha milk farm located 3.5 hours northeast of Bogota. Las Lomitas has two tanks where it collects sewage water from a neighboring military compound to irrigate their pasture fields. The increase in pasture growth in the fields that receive the sewage water is evident, but the owner is afraid the system might create problems due to the presence of pathogenic species of microorganisms in the sewage water. For this reason, EM will be introduced in the sewage collecting tanks and in the cows drinking water. EM will also be applied to the pasture plots before the cows come in to graze and after leaving the plots.
The effect of the EM treatment will be measured in milk production and milk quality that is measured daily by a local dairy. [top]
Other news about DCS
DCS believes that one of the most demanded applications of EM in Colombia is for urban waste treatment. For this reason, DCS has established contacts with high officials in the Ministry of Environmental Affairs in order to establish a model of urban waste treatment using EM. A meeting is programmed for the week after Easter, for DCS to present the model of EM urban waste treatment.
After nearly a month of activities, DCS recognizes that there is a long way to go and that the potential of EM as a tool for achieving sustainable development in a country such as Colombia is endless. Most of the people DCS has contacted, have shown interest in the concept of EM. The awareness of environmental issues related to food production is growing. Given the great potential of expansion of the technology in Colombia, DCS believes that many more demonstrations in diverse applications of EM technology are needed in order to have a real impact on the country’s food production system in the short run.
