The Significant Role of Earthworms in Waste Management
Provided by the Jindi Agricultural Earthworm Breeding Base: The renowned French agricultural scientist, Academician Patrick Revel, was invited by Kunming Yihua International Technical Exchange Consulting Co., Ltd., to visit our province yesterday to share his latest research findings on soil improvement — the use of special earthworms to improve soil quality in tropical and subtropical regions.
According to reports, Academician Revel's research indicates that earthworms can enhance soil fertility and increase crop yields. They provide essential nutrients for crops and indirectly assist their absorption, alter the physical structure of the soil, and control the growth of parasitic nematodes. Through experiments, Academician Revel has already applied this technology to tea and coffee cultivation as well as seedling breeding for reforestation.
More than 40 experts and scholars in agricultural technology from our province attentively listened to the presentation and discussed with Academician Revel regarding the actual soil conditions in our province, the cost of technological investment, and its efficiency. It is understood that if this technology proves applicable to practical problems in our province, it will play a crucial role in soil rehabilitation, afforestation, greening, production of economic crops such as tea, coffee, and rubber, environmental protection, and biodiversity conservation.
Earthworms in Waste Management
Using earthworms for waste management is an environmentally friendly approach recommended by experts like Ge Feng and Huo Weizhou to the organizing committee of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
This idea is not a sudden whim; Australians successfully implemented it during the 2000 Sydney Olympics when 1.6 million earthworms significantly contributed to waste management in the Olympic Village. Sydney also utilized tens of millions of earthworms to clear citywide garbage and convert it into high-quality fertilizer. Dr. Ge Feng mentioned that a worm farm established in the U.S. in 1982 could handle urban domestic waste for a population of one million; a worm breeding facility built in Canada in 1985 could process 750,000 tons of urban waste per week; many Japanese households use earthworms to eliminate daily-generated household waste.
Earthworms can consume large amounts of organic waste, such as food scraps and paper. The daily waste produced by a family of three can be entirely "consumed" by thousands of adult earthworms. While eating waste, earthworms produce odorless, harmless, and highly efficient multifunctional biofertilizers. Vermicompost used for flowers can significantly extend the blooming period and make the flowers more vibrant; used for fruit and vegetable production, it can not only increase yield but also improve quality and storage time.
In China, comprehensive research on the suitable earthworm species for handling domestic waste, known as "Taiping No. 3," has been ongoing for over five years. Extensive data have been accumulated regarding their ecological habits, breeding techniques, and comprehensive utilization. At least three ministerial-level research institutions have conducted systematic studies on using earthworms for domestic waste management, and some results have undergone national appraisal and acceptance.
Meanwhile, experts like Ge Feng and Huo Weizhou have held seven city-wide specialized seminars in Beijing, conducting in-depth research on issues such as waste source classification generated by earthworm processing, the earthworm industry chain, and earthworms' role in ecological agriculture. Their preliminary conclusion is that using earthworms for domestic waste management is worth promoting.
The liquid excrement of earthworms is a famous garden fertilizer, and other by-products are also nutritious fertilizers. Environmental activist Mary Murphy said, "Earthworms are very special animals; they love to eat rotting food and have big appetites."
To better protect the environment, the famous Mount Nelson Hotel in South Africa uses earthworms to manage the large amount of leftover food produced daily. The Mount Nelson Hotel now has its own worm farm for handling daily domestic waste, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Murphy is a strong advocate of this project and says it has a great future. "If we expand the scope, everyone can collect their organic waste and let these worms handle it, preventing organic waste from entering the soil, which would significantly impact climate change. It's incredible; they process 70% of the waste without any unpleasant odors. Earthworms can suppress harmful bacteria in the soil and increase beneficial bacteria, thus promoting vegetable growth and providing more food for people."
Organic waste in landfills releases carbon dioxide and methane, greenhouse gases that exacerbate global warming. Methane is a severe greenhouse gas with heat-absorbing capabilities 20 times higher than carbon dioxide. Earthworms, by consuming this organic waste, can convert it into relatively stable organic matter, thereby preventing climate warming.
The Mount Nelson Hotel in South Africa is the first pilot site for this project. Murphy wants to promote this project to other hotels, schools, and restaurants. This five-star hotel, located in Cape Town, is one of the oldest and most famous hotels in the area. Sharon Baharavi of the hotel said, "This method looks simple but is highly effective. While taking responsibility for protecting the environment, we can also benefit from waste treatment."
These worms remain out of sight from guests, enjoying their 'feast' in the backyard. Earthworms, usually about 15 centimeters long, are raised in specially designed wooden boxes, fed kitchen leftovers and table scraps.
Currently, the worm farm can only handle 20% of the hotel's waste. In the next nine months, with the expansion of worm farming and the farm, the processing rate is expected to reach 100%. Under appropriate conditions, two worms can reproduce into a million within a year. If the project progresses smoothly, by 2022, South Africa could achieve zero landfill waste through encouraging public participation and other waste management methods. Murphy stated, "There is no doubt that organic waste in landfills produces a large amount of methane, exacerbating climate warming. These worms can save the planet!"
Jindi Agricultural Earthworm Breeding Base offers wholesale Taiping No. 3 earthworms, commercial earthworms, earthworm castings, dried earthworms, frozen earthworms, etc. Free earthworm farming techniques come with the purchase of earthworms.
For more details, please visit the Jindi Agricultural Company website: http://www.jindinongye.com
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