Renew
Chemical in Derwent Valley

The concept for Renew was conceived on Saturday, February 17th 2007 when a research student, Alice Palmer presented her thesis "Aerated compost extract: standardising a new approach for integrated management of powdery mildew" to a very interested group of winemakers and vignerons attending the annual Tasmanian Pinot Noir Forum. Renew biological fertilizers provide: - organic matter; - carbon; - macro and micro-nutrients; - cation exchange capacity; - "live", beneficial microorganisms; - soil structure; - soil moisture holding capacity; and - soil water infiltration. Renew biological fertilizers are produced using a closed-loop system where organic waste from local agricultural based industries is converted into value added biological fertilizers and pesticides which are returned to local agricultural industries and other end users. Dean was already involved in commercially producing Trichoderma as a commercial "fungicide" to prevent white rot in onions through his company Biobot Pty Ltd. Renew was established in 2007 for the purpose of "providing agricultural solutions" an alternative to non-sustainable/synthetic/high carbon emissions, e.g., chemicals and fertilizers. This was quickly followed by Dean Metcalf, Alice?s PhD supervisor. Further discussions ensued and Tony Scherer whose experience in the Luebke system of composting could not be matched by any other person in Australia joined the team. Gerald Ellis, sustainability, high energy production requirements, an agriculturalist for 30 years was well aware that increasing use of traditional fertilizers was unsustainable for a number of reasons including soil degradation, water requirements and depletion of soil carbon and microbial activity. (more).