Organic waste is a highly valuable product which is currently being used around the world in the production of numerous products from food, animal feed, cosmetics, bio-plastics and organic fertilisers. As far as we have been able to ascertain, horse manure is a readily available waste which is left to decompose without any treatment around Mauritius, thus losing valuable raw material and increasing GHG emissions. A sustainable way to decrease organic waste, ensure quality food supply and mitigate climate change resides in vermicomposting. Vermicompost is known to be extremely beneficial to soil and plants Ref: (PDF) Vermicompost, the story of organic gold: A review (researchgate.net). This product brings back the ecological services in depleted
soil and at the same time reduces the need for chemical fertilisers and pesticides. The climate in Mauritius makes vermicomposting possible all year round compared to other countries where winters are harsh. Composting worms thrive in temperature range from 18 to 30 degrees Celsius (Ref: Temperatures for Vermicomposting (gardenguides.com). Vermicomposting end-product is versatile, it can be applied as is, in soil, or in soilless systems in the form of vermicompost tea (Ref: Liquid plant biostimulant from vermicompost tea | burnabyredwigglers (wordpress.com) Vermicompost is a key input
worldwide in the production of organic farms which supply quality healthy food (Ref:https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40093-018-0225-7) This product does not exist on a commercial basis in Mauritius and is known to be in very high demand in other countries where it is available. At Nature Technics Ltd, with the help of qualified academics, we would like to start an innovative worm farm in the Valley de Ferney AgriHub where the conditions are ideal for such a set up.
