Lorne Conference

Policy to Legacy
99% perspiration
State Planning Conference
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2 ce
Thesis

Solving environmental problems requires systemic change. Influencing change is possible, but only through addressing individual desires, fears and values. Its not impossible without a multi dimensional approach. Effective policy is critical.
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Road map
Some theories on change and where we are. The worm adventure 99% perspiration. The policy gaps.
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Alone on this small blue dot
The Super Species
Suzuki
We are the only specie that can change ecosystems
BUT: we have the rainbow legacy
Awareness
WITH huge issues
Ignorance of consequence and ecosystems The big bang The finite resource Giving up something today for others tomorrow
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So why dont we just do it?
Its Newtons fault.
Barriers

Institutional Mass Attitudinal Fear of Failure

Being wrong Being right too early
Fear of loss
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Complex systems

Organisation Material Temporal relationships Time Space Mass Chaos

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Can the mouse move the elephant?
Change happens

We are in the E revolution?

Precursors:

Technical Commercial Legal Something for everyone Hype
SEX appeal SEX appeal SEX appeal SEX appeal SEX appeal SEX appeal
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Why do we buy in?

Satisfies Desire Removes our Fears Fits with our values BUT Economists and policy makers assume linear behaviour in the allocation of resources.
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BUT there is a fundamental law: Inverse Square Law of Desire
d = u/t2
We value something more today than having the same thing tomorrow
= power of now
Environmental consequences are not immediate.
Giving up now to preserve for the future has low desire value.
Policy Leadership?
A bird in the hand is safer than one near a Bush. Drill
Drill
Drill!
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We need a quantum worm hole to travel forward in time so we come back with certainty.
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The Worms Turn?
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Vermitech
Australian Environmental Innovation
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Problem 1: Organic Waste

sewage - biosolids manure organic industrial waste MSW: putrescent garbage paper, cardboard green waste
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In the west - a load of . every 7 seconds. 12,500 trucks daily = end to end 125 k long
US Animal Manure
production exceeds 1 billion tonne/year
Industry 2% MSW 27%
Biosolids
mtpy Aus: 2.5 UK: 6 USA: 20 EU: 17 Asia: ? Biosolids 3%
Livestock 64%
Food 4%
Organic Waste Distribution by Type for the EU m = ce2
Disappearing Productive Lands The Gardens of Babylon The Indus and Euphrates Valleys The Cedars of Lebanon Northern Africa over farming de-forestation China over use of chemical Murray Darling
fertilisers
Problem 2: Dying Soils
Harvesting the life out of them = ce2 earth
Exponential Trend
Increasing concentration of population Increasing concentration of waste production Decreasing availability of low cost environmentally sustainable disposal routes
Salinisation
Famine Flood Greenhouse
Global Warming
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where there is a problem there is an opportunity.
theres money in muck!
Worms have been around since the days of the dinosaurs!
Falling dinosaur dung was a major work hazard
m = ce Courtesy A Worms Eye View The History of the World
Darwins Last 10 Years

was spent studying the worm
It may be doubted whether there are many other animals Whos which have played so important lowly? a part in the history of the world as have these lowly organised creatures. Charles Darwin 1881
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The Challenge
barriers to the obvious
The Challenges
The Process Side

Entomology Microbiology Biochemistry Multiple engineering disciplines Soil biodiversity Plant pathology Agronomy Systemic change Cultural acceptance
The End Product Side

Political and Social Science

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Non Technical Systemic Barriers

Legislative structures
laws & lore
Established alternatives Institutional Risk Aversion

Odour, Pathogens, Heavy Metals System Failure No need for courage
complaints illness cost safety
Money
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The Multi Award Winning System at Redland Queensland.

V-tech 1 design 20,000 wet tpy (4,000 dts) open to weather occupies 1.6 hectares
Located in: koala habitat catchment for Moreton Bay within 200 metres of residents
Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Science Yellow Pages Award BHP Steel Award Highly Commended Prime Ministers Award Finalist Banksia Award
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Our Results
Negative footprint
Environmental Impact
No

process pollution
no offensive odour no leachate low energy input (< 2 litres of diesel) negligible green house emissions
Value

added end product
restoration of degraded soils increase in crop yields and quality decrease in use of chemical fertilisers Potential high revenue stream Reduced metal impact through low application rate
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Quantitative Research Results

by DPI, CSIRO, BSES & Growers Crop Effect Grapes 20 - 50% yield increases
Carrots Sugar Cane Cherries Cotton Broccoli Rehabilitation Zucchini
increase in Baume increase in quality 24% net yield increase - >$2,400/ha
23 - 52% yield increase

20% yield increase 15 - 20% yield increase reduced crop disease + yield increase mine site trials
100% increase
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Social Impact

Preservation of farming communities 50% reduction in truck movements through local communities Solution for local Green Waste disposal
Compliance with global EPA future directions

Template for community education on recycling Media and community support
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How did we do it?

Massively parallel activity
Corporate culture Adventure capitalism
Financial investment
Technical excellence Creation of apparent mass

QA systems Demonstrations proof of concept at scale
Proactive engagement of constituents Media

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Education by demonstration
Politicians Local
Councils & Authorities
Regulators (EPA, Health, Agriculture, Treasury)
Local
Environment Groups
Neighbours
Schools
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Sydney December 2001
For The Next Generation

Hey Sweetpea! Do you think they get it?
m= Courtesy of The Adventures of Sweetpeace
Tehran May 2001
How will we leave the planet for our children?
What will they see?

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Our Legacy

Capture of the organic resource with reduced process impact Reduction in use of agricultural chemicals Imitators to accelerate adoption Sustainable villages
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Industry is inevitable
make it the best it can be
3 Critical Policy Gaps

1. Valuing externalities? I can not charge for the environmental benefit I deliver as my customer is not paid for being green.
The benefit mostly accrues to the public
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The lack of nexus

The public want it but will they pay? No method for net present value calculation of environmental externalities in buying decisions of governments and companies.
No balance sheet items for intangible environmental goods and services.

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Need
Practical valuation tool particularly for local government purchasing Legal system recognition of values and costs
Reallocation of benefits through tax and tax credits

Market trading in credits Financial market in greener companies
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2. Cross discipline training!
Technologists

Engineers, scientists Enablers Valuation models Real & green Follow the money Regulations Commercial agreements Make it sexy Make it desirable NOW!
Economists

Entrepreneurs
Lawyers

And the public will create the market
Marketers

Politicians will follow
Teachers
For the next generations
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3. Encourage public adoption of innovative technical and regulatory solutions by:
removing fear of failure providing $ incentives to pilot
= demonstration site for innovative technologies, rules and regulations
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g
The commitment of private and public capital is fundamental.
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m = ce2
dont frighten the elephant
seduce it
If you can dream it, Its possible!
2 m=ce
m = ce2

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Policy to Legacy

State Planning Conference

Alone on this small blue dot

The Super Species

We are the only specie that can change ecosystems

BUT: we have the rainbow legacy

WITH huge issues

So why dont we just do it?

Its Newtons fault.

Institutional Mass Attitudinal Fear of Failure

Being wrong Being right too early

Organisation Material Temporal relationships Time Space Mass Chaos

Can the mouse move the elephant?

We are in the E revolution?

Technical Commercial Legal Something for everyone Hype

Why do we buy in?

BUT there is a fundamental law: Inverse Square Law of Desire

Environmental consequences are not immediate.

The Worms Turn?

Problem 1: Organic Waste

Organic Waste Distribution by Type for the EU m = ce2

Problem 2: Dying Soils

Harvesting the life out of them = ce2 earth

Famine Flood Greenhouse

where there is a problem there is an opportunity.

theres money in muck!

Worms have been around since the days of the dinosaurs!

Falling dinosaur dung was a major work hazard

m = ce Courtesy A Worms Eye View The History of the World

Darwins Last 10 Years

The Process Side

The End Product Side

Political and Social Science

Non Technical Systemic Barriers

laws & lore

Established alternatives Institutional Risk Aversion

Odour, Pathogens, Heavy Metals System Failure No need for courage

complaints illness cost safety

The Multi Award Winning System at Redland Queensland.

added end product

Quantitative Research Results

23 - 52% yield increase

Compliance with global EPA future directions

How did we do it?

Massively parallel activity

Corporate culture Adventure capitalism

Technical excellence Creation of apparent mass

QA systems Demonstrations proof of concept at scale

Proactive engagement of constituents Media

Councils & Authorities

Regulators (EPA, Health, Agriculture, Treasury)

Sydney December 2001

For The Next Generation

m= Courtesy of The Adventures of Sweetpeace

Tehran May 2001

How will we leave the planet for our children?

What will they see?

3 Critical Policy Gaps

The benefit mostly accrues to the public

The lack of nexus