News and Workshops| Soil Foodweb is an international soil biology group providing laboratory soil testing and soil biology consultancy services. It was founded by Dr Elaine Ingham, a leading international soil microbiologist. The systems developed by Dr Ingham have been designed to analyse the microbiology present in soil samples and to develop appropriate responses to achieve desired levels and balances of soil microbiology. |
SFI Australia is located at Lismore, NSW. There are SFI certified advisors in NSW, Victoria and Queensland who are able to advise on the services available from SFI, as well as perform other functions. These people run their own businesses (often as agribusiness consultants) and have extensive knowledge of the SFI methodology and our approach to soil biology. We are continually looking for suitable people to become SFI certified advisors in the other states.
Why become an SFI certified advisor?
SFI certified advisors hold the SFI "Tick of Approval" (TOA). The TOA program defines a level of quality based upon leading scientific research into soil function that is superior to standing conventional regulations governing agricultural inputs and their management. The program enables agronomists, consultants and manufacturers to gain an understanding and achieve a level of competence in proven SFI practices designed to build and maintain a healthy soil food web. Subject to meeting the ongoing requirements of this program, participants will achieve SFI accreditation. This accreditation will allow the business entity to carry the ‘Soil Foodweb Tick of Approval’ on their products and marketing materials. Appropriately qualified participants are also listed on the SFI website.
SFI offers specific scientific and technical support second to none to its certified affiliates that are based upon the knowledge gained from its extensive data set in Australia and other countries around the globe. SFI's logo is allowed to be used by the certified business to promote their service or product subject to certain conditions and will be granted access to some agreed SFI marketing materials if desired. SFI provides professional introductory and update training that will lead to and maintain ongoing certification.
Advisors certified by SFI
In Queensland ... | |
 | Roxane Blackley Extensive experience in broadacre, dryland farming and grazing systems. Particular areas of interest include the use of standard and innovative monitoring techniques, geographical information systems, and remote sensing. |
In New South Wales ... | |
 | Paul Patten |
In Victoria ... | |
 | Bill Avery Bill Avery is a SoilFoodweb Senior Agronomist. Bill has successfully incorporated soil Foodweb methods and practises into large scale agricultural/horticultural operations in Australia, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine. He is currently working in China on establishing a large scale compost production program using SFI principals. |
 | Gerhard Grasser Based near Warragul in West Gippsland only an hour east of Melbourne. Principally covering all of Gippsland, but also other regions of Victoria and clients in South Australia, Queensland and NSW. |
 | Darren Morgan Enviroturf Australia specialises in the biological management of golf greens and sports fields in the Melbourne area. Darren also consults to dairy farmers. |
 | Brett Irvine Brett Irvine is the director of Carbon Chasers Agriculture, and a Soil Foodweb Senior Agronomist
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 | Stuart Proud Healesville, Victoria |