An NZBio hosted workshop in collaboration with researchers from the University of Waikato Management School
The aim was to discuss challenges in engaging with citizens and community groups on biotech issues
Attended by around 40 people the workshop was part of an ongoing FRST funded research pogramme to develop "insights on the social and cultural sustainability of biotechnology in New Zealand"
This big kumara (aka 'sweet potato') was one of several dug up from a garden in Tauranga which uses liquid vermicast last weekend. We can't be sure how much credit to give the worm juice but this giant of the Convolvulaceae family has some impressive statistics:
By the way, a recent carbon-dating study indicates that of the ancient middens found so far which contain varieties of kumara, those from Papua New Guinea appear to be significantly older than those from Central or South America - no real surprise there
Anybody got a good recipe?
The research site at Onepu (near Kawerau) was established last year by Dr. agr. Michael Quintern of Scion. It contains 18 plots that are being used to trial combinations of different biosolids toward optimisation of the vermicomposting process around primary sector 'waste-streams'
Wormtech began in 1999 following the desire by Greg Walker - one of the founders of the innovative company - for a career change from farming. Located near Te Teko in the eastern Bay of Plenty, Wormtech now have more than 2km of vermicomposting windrows which are fed around 10 tonnes of tutae from local piggeries each week
Initially the focus was on producing worms for sale rather than liquid fertiliser or vermicast. Wormtech have since established a partner company that offers liquid fertiliser services for orchard and pasture throughout the Bay of Plenty via soil aeration technology
A point of interest was that the early windrows contained a mixture of both red and tiger worms but over time the red worms have nearly all disappeared whereas the tiger worm population continues to thrive
Thanks Greg for your excellent korero and cheers Michael for organising the trip - WormPower!
Billed as "Providing information on understanding and growing your geothermal capability" the hui - organised by GNS Science & Te Puni Kokiri and held at the Heritage Hotel - was aimed at Maori owners of landblocks holding geothermal resources. According to the invitation panui:
The prime objective of this seminar is to provide opportunities for the Maori economic sector to engage and focus on successful pathways to commercialising their unique resource potential
As would be expected the majority of those attending were connected with the larger Ngati Tuwharetoa and Te Arawa trusts & incorporations. Overall the hui provided a good range of subject areas and relevant expertise, with the Chilean speaker Luis Urzura (who is also from the Mapuche people on his mothers side) drawing a particularly good response from the audience
But as with last years geothermal conference the resource potential was overwhelmingly focused on energy rather than extremophiles. This imbalance is difficult to resolve given that the financial cost and therefore risk of an unsuccessful drilling exploration on just one site can be in the region of $7 - 8m; larger than the entire annual funding available from FRST for Maori research & innovation. Better to build deals where the energy companies carry most of the risk rather than the landowners or otherwise focus on local solutions for papakainga
"Yes our use of geothermal will be sustainable but the point is our people are broke and want to get the maximum return from their resource" - Jim Gray
"In many ways [the use of geothermal resources] has to be led and driven by Maori - I don't see it as being government's role in leading where Maori research & development should go" - Reece Moors
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Big thanks to the Aorangi Awanui Trust for supporting this mahi, and especially to Tama, Krystal & Charlie who showed us around their spectacular maunga in te rohepotae o Mokai-Patea. Kia ora Stephen for bringing it together
We took heaps of photos - these are just a few to give you an idea of how choice it was doing bush research. Will upload a selection of more informative photos from the fungi survey in a seperate post
A brief photo essay sampling various shots taken to identify types of forest fungi on a landblock bordering the slopes of Pirongia maunga. It was such a perfect day that we just kept climbing to check the awesome views from the top
A local korero gives Pirongia maunga as the place where Tuhoe-potiki met his end after falling off the side of one of the many precipices found in this rugged bush country
The International Network of Indigenous Health Knowledge & Development Conference occurred over 15 - 17 October in Rotorua
To download a pdf version of the Whenua.biz poster prepared for the INIHKD Conference click here
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Whenua.biz hui to progress the 'Kaupapa Advisory Ropu' on their whakaaro around our current projects. The agenda focused much of the discussion on the tikanga and traditional applications associated with the Awheto cordyceps fungi, namely Rongoa & Ta-moko
We thank you all for the tautoko + challenging korero - kia ora Kaihoro, & cheers everybody!
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