From left to right, Daryl Jones, Dave Wyatt (both of Vermicrobe International), Brock Macdonald and Dr Brett Roe [both of CPWS].Over the past 8 days, the Centre for Plant and Water Science (CPWS) has hosted 2 groups of visitors, firstly Vermicrobe International Pty Ltd - a New South Wales company specialising in the commercial production of earthworms; and secondly Seair Diffusion Systems Inc. - a Canadian company that has developed equipment for diffusion of gases into liquids.

Worms play a key role in the breakdown of organic wastes and production of fish food and hydroponic nutrients in an integrated waste management project funded by RIRDC and aimed at roof-top food production.

The small air bubble size in water achieved with Seair equipment is of interest to the CPWS, which is researching the effects of oxygation, the delivery of aerated or oxygenated irrigation water to drip, and in the future for furrow and perhaps overhead irrigated crop species.

Both companies have generously donated equipment to be incorporated in trials by the CPWS.

From left to right, Laurie Tait [CPWS], Harold Kinasewich [President, CEO Seair], Guy Scott [Seair], Dr Surya Bhattarai, Jay Dhungel, Dr Sanjay Singh, Manouchehr Torabi and Dr Brett Roe [all of CPWS].