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RESEARCH PROJECTS

Laverstoke Park
Laboratory Services

Research Themes

1. Food Quality:
   The use of slower-growing animals and traditional breeds for developing healthier nutritive content and improved sensory quality of meat, dairy and poultry products.
   Analysis of the effect of diffent livestock feeds on the nutritional content and sensory quality of meat, dairy and poultry products. For example the effect of grazing on grass compared to grain feeds on the ratios of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in meat, milk and dairy products.
2. Taste tests:
   We are always testing our own food – it is the only way to make sure it is as good as we want it to be. Staff and visitors alike are regularly invited to participate in organised blind taste tests most weeks.
3. Ecology and biodiversity of the agricultural environment:
   Managing the agricultural environment to maximise biodiversity. This includes all aspects of the on-farm activities from hedge planting to water mangement, to tillage practice, to the use of composts and compost-teas. All of which are aimed at increasing the life in, on and around our farm.
   Monitoring the content of composts and compost teas prepared on-farm in terms of the diverity and numbers of micro-organisms and the presence of nutrients and other compounds significant to plant growth and food production.
   The effect of applications of compost and compost tea upon plant growth and subsequent food production in terms of sensory quality and health.
   We will be looking for correlations between biodiversity in the agricultural environment and food quality and health.
4. Compost:
   We make our own composts and compost teas. These are made on-farm, and will be tested in the laboratory, especially to boost the micro-organisms and nutrients which benefit plant health for food production.
   Compost tea is a water extract of compost that is cold brewed. Compost tea contains soluble nutrients, enzymes, hormones and a complex set of organisms, which benefit the soil and the plants.
5. Quality assurance:
   We are currently working towards achieving the ISO 9000 quality standard across the entire organisation.