Farmers can increase productivity at the same time as reducing their environmental impact, says Daniel Schuurman, director of Franko Solutions, which is hosting a four-day Nutri-Tech Solutions course on sustainable farming at Trinity Wharf in Tauranga from March 17 to 20.

Graeme Sait.

'Farmers and growers do not have to sacrifice profit and productivity to farm in an environmentally sustainable way; and this course will teach how that's possible,” says Daniel.

The course is led by Graeme Sait, ex-pat New Zealander and co-founder of Nutri-Tech Solutions of Australia, now the largest biological growing solutions company worldwide, servicing more than 15,000 growers with its more than 200 products exported to 40 countries.

Daniel says Franko Solutions became New Zealand agents for Nutri-Tech after using its products and system in its rose breeding business, Franko Roses.

'We found we could breed roses for disease resistance, but genetics was just part of the answer. How you grow plants is almost more important than what you grow. Using Nutri-Tech products, we went from using 40 to 50 different pesticides to none.”

Those who attend the course will learn key sustainable farming practices which, once put in practice, will enable them to increase yields and plant health while reducing spending and chemical inputs.

'Balance – both mineral and biological – is the keystone of this approach, but there are numerous management tips, tricks and synergies that complete the equation. The bottom line is the fact that this holistic precision approach simply outperforms the conventional approach.”

The course's four days feature mineral management, microbe management, plant management and pest management, with human health management interspersed throughout.

The course includes comprehensive presentations and hands-on workshops. The human health workshop is both entertaining and informative, with patrons receiving a comprehensive report card on their personal health.

Franco Solutions is offering a $100 discount on the registration price of $799 for anyone who says they read about the course in Coast & Country. For more information, see the advertisement on this page.