Hi All:
Maybe we will get some traction from Rifkin's think tank on promoting Terra Preta soils at scale:
Erich
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Forwarded Message:
Subj: RE: Terra Preta Soils: A solution to Numerous Problems
Date: 7/5/2006 1:13:37 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time
From: dhjohnston at foet.org
To: Shengar at aol.com
Dear Erich,
Mr. Rifkin is out of the office today. I have sent some of your materials to our research team and will look into them further. I will be sure that Mr. Rifkin sees your message and the supporting attachments. Thank you for your message.
Kind regards,
Drew
Andrew H. Johnston
Chief of Staff
Foundation on Economic Trends
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From: Shengar at aol.com [mailto:Shengar@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 04, 2006 4:20 PM
To: jrifkin at foet.org;
letters@washpost.com
Subject: Terra Preta Soils: A solution to Numerous Problems
Dear Mr. Rifkin:
After seeing your article on marker-assisted selection (MAS):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...070300922.html
I felt you may be interested in this MUCH larger systemic and holistic approach to sustainable agricultural development.
MAS could be the key to the large scale development of Terra Preta agriculture.
I thought, I first read about these soils in " Botany of Desire " by Michael Pollen, or Dr. Jared Diamond's "Guns Germs &Steel" but I could not find reference to them. Wherever, I did not realize their potential.
'Terra Preta' soils I feel has great possibilities to revolutionize sustainable agriculture into a major CO2 sequestration strategy. There is an ecology going on in these soils that is not completely understood, and if replicated and applied at scale would have multiple benefits for farmers and environmentalist. Basically we could have Bio-fuels and non oil dependent soil fertility too.
Here's the Cornell page for an over view:
http://www.css.cornell.edu/faculty/l...ochar_home.htm
This Science Forum thread on thes soil contains further links:
http://hypography.com/forums/earth-s...a-preta-9.html
The Georgia Inst. of Technology page:
http://www.energy.gatech.edu/presentations/dday.pdf
As you will see the Japanese work with these soils is impressive, Especially with trees.
I've sent it to the researchers at M-Roots, who make Mycorisal fungus inoculations for acceleration of the reestablishment of the symbiotic fungal / root relationship. Here's the M-Roots site:
http://www.rootsinc.com/
I also sent it to Dr. Jared Diamond, if he replies, I will probably have an orgasm!
If pre Columbian Indians could produce these soils up to 6 feet deep over 20% of the Amazon basin it seems that our energy and agricultural industries could also product them at scale.
Harnessing the work of this vast number of microbes and fungi changes the whole equation of EROEI for food and Bio fuels. I see this as the only sustainable agricultural strategy if we no longer have cheap oil for fertilizer.
I believe, to have fast results, an M-Roots type fungus inoculent and local compost would get this super community of wee beasties populated into their proper Soil horizon Carbon Condos.
Regards, Erich
Erich J. Knight
