EcoResearch    

The Australian and New Zealand Worm Industry Survey

Why a survey?

EcoResearch has been asked to update a chapter on the Australian and New Zealand vermiculture industries we first wrote in 1999 whilst John Buckerfield and myself (Katie Webster) were based at CSIRO Division of Soils, Adelaide. The chapter, entitled 'Vermiculture in Australia and New Zealand' will form part of a book edited by U.S. university researchers Professor Clive Edwards and Doctor Norman Arancon. It's a landmark work that will be ready for the IX International Colloquium on Earthworm Ecology, Mexico, September 2010.

Things have changed in ten years - John and I left CSIRO in 2000 and set up EcoResearch, and I have run the business myself since John's death in 2003. The worm industry has changed too, which means the chapter, which is only now being prepared for publication,  is now out of date. The chapter used data from the 1997 Australian Worm Growers Association Questionnaire. A new survey was needed.

What was asked?

The questionnaire was divided into six parts:

• Part A - About your operation, such as how long you've been a producer, and the size and type of your operation.

• Part B - Worm growing - buying, supplying and specialties

• Part C - Vermicompost - supply, research and support

• Part D - Mechanisation- the extent to which your operation is mechanised

• Part E - Feedstock - what, where, how much and how far

• Part F - The industry - organisation,current state, future.

Can I get the report of the results?

Yes. Results have been compiled into a technical report and made available to survey participants with a small charge ($11.00) to cover postage and printing. Any remaining reports will be made available to non-participants - please contact Katie on ecorsrch@bigpond.net.au or +61 (0-8) 8339 8628 for details.