PRESS ADVISORY
For Immediate Release

CONTACT: Jane Sooby, (831) 426-6606

Cornell researcher to discuss
vermicompost and compost tea

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (June 18, 2004) - The Organic Farming Research Foundation will host a public presentation on June 25 by Allison Hornor, a graduate student at Cornell University, entitled "Perspectives on human pathogens in vermicompost and compost tea: history, research and policy."

The use of compost tea and vermicompost in organic agriculture is controversial largely because of the lack of scientific data on conditions under which pathogens such as E. coli may grow in these materials. Compost tea, or a water extract of compost, is quite popular with many organic farmers and gardeners who spray it on plants primarily for disease control and to promote plant growth. Vermicompost--a soil amendment made by feeding various wastes to red worms and collecting the castings--is used for similar purposes. The reasons for the effectiveness of both materials are unknown and only beginning to be studied by scientists.

The USDA’s National Organic Program is currently developing standards for how compost tea may be made and applied--though it’s possible they will ban it outright due to lack of information. Particular issues of concern are aeration levels in the teas and addition of simple sugars to stimulate microbial growth.These factors may influence the growth of pathogens in compost teas. The use of vermicomposted animal manures in organic agriculture is also currently under review.

OFRF first funded Hornor’s work in 2003, believing that the research would provide valuable data on which USDA can base regulatory decisions. Hornor has developed microbiological methods for detecting virulence genes in compost and compost tea in order to track survival of pathogens through the tea brewing process. She has focused particularly on vermicompost and the survival of human pathogens during passage through the worm gut. Hornor is also experimenting with the effect of different sugar and oxygen levels on pathogen survival in compost tea.

The talk will be at the Santa Cruz Live Oak Grange on Friday, June 25, from 2-3:30 pm. The 1-hour talk will be followed by a half-hour open discussion. This presentation should be of great interest to organic farmers, gardeners, and consumers. This event is free to the public, and all are welcome.

For more information, contact Jane Sooby, Organic Farming Research Foundation, at 831-426-6606, e-mail jane@ofrf.org

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The Organic Farming Research Foundation was founded in 1990 to foster the improvement and widespread adoption of organic farming practices. To that end, our mission is to sponsor research related to organic farming; to disseminate research results to organic farmers and to growers interested in adopting organic production systems; and to educate the public and decision makers about organic farming issues.