Integrated Biosystems for Sustainable Development Proceedings of the Inform 2000 National Workshop on Integrated Food Production and Resource Management
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Integrated biosystems for sustainable development Proceedings of the InFoRM 2000 National Workshop on Integrated Food Production and Resource Management Edited by Kev Warburton Usha Pillai-McGarry Deborah Ramage February 2002 RIRDC Publication No 01/174 RIRDC Project No MS001-14 i © 2002 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 0 642 58393 5 ISSN 1440-6845 Integrated Biosystems for Sustainable Development Publication No. 01/174 Project No. MS001-14 The views expressed and the conclusions reached in this publication are those of the author and not necessarily those of persons consulted. RIRDC shall not be responsible in any way whatsoever to any person who relies in whole or in part on the contents of this report. This publication is copyright. However, RIRDC encourages wide dissemination of its research, providing the Corporation is clearly acknowledged. For any other enquiries concerning reproduction, contact the Publications Manager on phone 02 6272 3186. Researcher Contact Details Dr. Kev Warburton School of Life Sciences, University of Queensland Phone: (07) 3365 2979 Fax: (07) 3365 1655 Email: [email protected] RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 1, AMA House 42 Macquarie Street BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6272 4539 Fax: 02 6272 5877 Email: [email protected]. Website: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Published in February 2002 Printed on environmentally friendly paper by Canprint ii Foreword Integrated biosystems, where connections are made between different food production activities, can take a wide variety of forms. Such integrated systems offer many opportunities for increasing the efficiency of water and nutrient use, productivity and profit, and represent practical, creative solutions to problems of waste management and pollution. Environmental pressures and economic drivers such as the rising costs of water, fuel and other inputs are stimulating growing interest in eco-efficient production options that minimise resource consumption and pollution. Integrated biosystems satisfy these requirements. Because they conserve soil and water, increase crop diversity and can produce feed, fuel or fertilizer on-site, integrated biosystems are relatively sustainable and resilient and can do much to support local economies. They can help farmers diversify or combine forces with other complementary operations. Integration can be achieved over a range of scales and can assist in community, catchment and regional planning. Biosystem integration therefore helps to achieve the economic, environmental and social aims of sustainable development. Many examples of integrated design now exist worldwide and appropriate technologies for ecological engineering have been developed. Given these advances, how can we apply such ideas to construct cost-effective, ecologically sensible solutions for Australia? What is our vision for the future? This book shows how integrated biosystems can contribute to sustainable development and includes a wide array of current examples drawn from different production sectors. This publication was funded from RIRDC Core Funds which are provided by the Federal Government. The InFoRM 2000 workshop was co-sponsored by the University of Queensland, RIRDC, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency. This book, a new addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 700 research publications, forms part of our Resilient Agriculture Systems R&D sub-program, which aims to foster agri-industry systems that have sufficient diversity, flexibility and robustness to be resilient and respond to challenges and opportunities. Most of our publications are available for viewing, downloading or purchasing online through our website: downloads at www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/Index.htm purchases at www.rirdc.gov.au/eshop Peter Core Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation iii Acknowledgements The editors would like to extend special thanks to: The University of Queensland, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Queensland Environmental Protection Agency, for workshop sponsorship RIRDC, for workshop and publication support Peter Peterson, for invaluable help with workshop planning Eddie Chan, for extensive administrative assistance Andrew Gaines, for excellent workshop facilitation Roger Swift and Joe Baker, for their perceptive opening and closing comments George Wilson, for thought -provoking ideas Joe Baker, Bob Pagan, John Mott, Jacky Foo and Peter Peterson, for chairing workshop sessions The Bardon Centre, for providing an ideal workshop environment iv Contents (* indicates summary contribution) PREFACE VII EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF INFORM 2000 IX Integrated biosystems and sustainable development, Kev Warburton and Usha Pillai-McGarry ix 1. INTRODUCTION 1 What is an integrated biosystem? The InFoRM 2000 workshop 2 Opening InFoRM 2000 address by Professor Roger Swift 3 2. FUTURE TRENDS, OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS 4 Catchment issues: land and water use, planning and regulatory frameworks, Scott Spencer 4 Waste Management and Environmental Engineering, Paul Greenfield 9 Sustainable Economics and Business, Mark Diesendorf 12 The Natural Step and Natural Capitalism, Andrew Gaines 15 Sustainability and integration: a farmer's perspective, Paul Ziebarth 17 Integrated systems and rural community development: possibilities for partnership. Ingrid Burkett 19 Integrated Bio-Systems: A Global Perspective, Jacky Foo 37 Integrated Farming for Sustainable Primary Industry: Water and Nutrient Recycling through Integrated Aquaculture, Martin S Kumar 51 Israel Multiple Water Use and Aquaculture - Ten Lessons, Peter Peterson 65 Integrated Agri-Aquaculture in Australia: virtual industry or commercial reality? Gooley, G. J.* and Gavine, F. M. 72 Integrating food production with urban consumption: some issues Rebecca Lines-Kelly 83 3. THE TECHNOLOGY OF INTEGRATION 88 Processing of Biomass and Control of Pathogens - Concept of a Bio-Refinery Horst W. Doelle 88 Biofuel Generation, Horst W.Doelle 98 Cleaner Production and Integrated Biosystems, Robert Pagan and Marguerite Lake 103 Adopting Vermiculture Technology to Manage and Utilize Organic Waste Steve Capeness 111 v Processing of organic materials by the soldier fly, Hermetia illucens Kev Warburton1 and Vivienne Hallman2 115 Organic Production – a part of the Sustainable Future of Farming, Andrew Monk 127 Mobile Biodigester – a Platform Mounted Biogdigester for On-farm Demonstration David Tay and Phil Matthews 128 Biological Remediation of Aquaculture Waste, Dirk Erler 129 Biofilm Substrates in Integrated Biofiltration, Doug Pearson 130 Wetlands for production and purification, Vivienne Hallman 131 4. FURTHER EXAMPLES OF INTEGRATED SYSTEMS 133 Integrated Biosystems in Southern Australia, Paul Harris1 & Phil Glatz2 133 Integrating Multiple Water Use in Cotton and Grain Production, Paul McVeigh 139 Beef Feed Lot Integration, Ian Iker 141 Convergence is the Key, Geoff Wilson 143 Permaculture Approaches, Janet Millington 148 Eco-Efficient Settlements, Vivienne Hallman 153 Multi-use water systems –Environmentally sustainable aqua-agricultural farming system. 159 David Tay 159 A Community Development Model for Mixed Enterprise Land Development 160 Beth Mitchell and Michael Rooney 160 5. FUTURE VISION AND ACTION FOR CHANGE 161 Future vision 161 Action for change: promoting integrated biosystem development in Australia 162 6. CONCLUDING COMMENTS 166 Address to InFoRM 2000 by Dr. Joe Baker, Chief Scientist, Queensland Department of Primary Industries 166 APPENDIX 1. 171 A “wish list” for Australia’s future: comments from workshop participants 171 APPENDIX 2. 176 WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS 176 vi Preface This publication collates, summarises and reviews information relating to integrated biosystems presented at the InFoRM 2000 National Workshop on Integrated Food Production and Resource Management held in Brisbane on 9-10 November, 2000. The workshop was attended by more than 50 delegates representing government agencies, researchers, social scientists, planners, industry stakeholders and producers. A list of workshop participants and their contact details is provided in Appendix 2. The desired outcomes from InFoRM 2000 were: Documentation of current examples of integration in Australia and overseas Development of action plans, models and options for Australia A clearer framework for planning, research and demonstration Collaboration between stakeholders Papers were presented on future trends and opportunities for integrated biosystems, constraints on the development of these production systems, the technologies involved, and local and overseas examples of integrated biosystems. Workshop sessions addressed issues relating to integrated systems such as resource use efficiency, economic viability, accreditation and quality control, and community development. Participants also discussed prerequisites for the future development of integrated systems in Australia. Priorities and recommendations The key themes identified in this book are: RESPONSIBLE RESOURCE USE Multiple use of water and nutrients, especially in agri-aquaculture systems Environmental protection, especially with respect to water quantity and quality COORDINATION More emphasis on systems-level thinking and interdisciplinary cooperation Development of policy, legislation and planning frameworks RESEARCH Increased funding for research and development