Getting closer: Agriculture and amenity

At first viewing, the amenity turf and agriculture sectors may appear to be different worlds. Yet there are important similarities and indeed lessons that each can share when it comes to the environment.

Mark Fowles, business development director for the William Gilder Group – a specialist in environmental management with a farming heritage – examines these in closer detail.

It is no secret that agriculture has long had a challenge on its hands when it comes to sustainability.

‘Sustainable agriculture’, referring to the ways in which the health of the land can be preserved without affecting the health of crops, is a concept that continues to create debate and, in some cases, cause operational headaches.

But despite these, the sector has been successful in progressing the sustainability agenda.

One of the main ways is through maximising the full potential of the ground itself. What may have once been seen as waste and, therefore an expense, now has a new lease of life as organic fertilisers.

Using organic fertilisers returns vital nutrients back to the earth and enriches it. Some types of are best spread in a targeted manner through the use of precise injection techniques. This minimises the amount of harmful synthetic nitrogen released back into the atmosphere and maintain the correct level of nutrients in the soil at the same time.

Turf can draw on similar processes and techniques, particularly in areas of nutrient deficiency. Because organic fertilisers tend to release nutrients at slower rate when compared to artificial, there is less risk of over-fertilising the land, therefore enabling turf to grow healthily and, in some cases, even giving it greater aesthetic appeal. The main point, though, is that organic fertilisers keep soils nutrient-rich for future growths.

On another level, retaining soil health directly influences ESG credentials and strengthens customer relations. With healthy turf growth, managers of business parks and other facilities are able to provide a positive impression for visitors and staff alike. To take a lesson learnt by agriculture, organics fertilisers can even be less expensive, especially when one considers that the building blocks for these fertilisers originate from food waste and other components that can naturally be gathered in the course of day-to-day site upkeep.

The end result, ultimately, is less landfill waste and a product that will add value to the site.

So why is the rollout of organic fertilisers not as commonplace as could be expected? Price, quality, availability and awareness and education, have all been challenges agriculture has experienced in bringing organic fertilisers forward, and many of the same hurdles exist in sectors elsewhere. Rather than seeing these as a hindrance to progress, there is a unique opportunity for seemingly separate industries to share knowledge and contribute to a series of common goals.

Indeed, the circular economy model that is becoming more commonplace within agriculture may lend itself well to the amenity sector. Dead plants and most materials that may once have been instantly regarded as no longer having value still have roles in the preservation of the environment. With both sides having a vested interest in the health of the land, collaborating and bringing wider resources together to maintain optimum soil health will facilitate a move towards recognised best practices and processes for other industries to adapt for their own uses, and therefore, a sustainable future. Knowledge gained needs to filter through all levels and all sectors in order to have the best outcome.