The $30,000 project on five flower, vegetable and turf farms will highlight the results of a series of trials that showed compost improves soil quality, increases yield, saves water and reduces nutrient run-off.
Hawkesbury Harvest is a community-based organisation, based in Richmond, aimed at improving the economic sustainability of agriculture the Hawkesbury, Baulkham Hills and Hornsby areas, with an estimated value of more than $500 million annually.
The Office of Environment and Heritage has been working with wine growers, farmers, local government and catchment mnagement authorities on trials that have found compost has significant environmental and economic benefits.
By helping to establish viable markets for compost products, the value of organics as a resource is increased and able to meet the long-term aim of diverting more food and garden waste from landfill.
Food and garden waste currently accounts for more than half of most household rubbish going to landfill.
