A market study performed by the NSW Waste Boards (1999) identified significant potential exists for the use of recycled organics products in intensive agriculture. The existing market for recycled organics products to the emerging intensive agriculture market in NSW is very small. The report reviews relevant and credible publications addressing the application of recycled organics products in viticulture, fruit and orchard production, and market gardening segments of the intensive agriculture market.

The application of recycled organics products in intensive agriculture has been studied in Australia via a range of applied trials over last ten years using various composted products. However, most of this research has not been previously distributed or peer reviewed and is not readily accessible.

Therefore the objectives of this report were to obtain and review all available relevant project reports, publications and articles across a range of potential intensive agriculture markets to:

• Establish baseline performance data for specific intensive agriculture applications within the context of environmental factors and farm management systems;
  
• Review the methodology of previous trials, document key experimental design issues for applied field trials and to prioritise relevant monitoring parameters for the purpose of establishing the performance benefits and cost-benefit of application of RO products;
  
• Identify gaps in available data, thereby informing and prioritising future applied product application trials; and
  
• Provide baseline information to support the future development of performance-based RO product standards and associated application guidelines for priority intensive agriculture market segments.

The Recycled Organics Products in Intensive Agriculture report consists of four volumes:

• Volume 1: Introduction
  This volume includes objectives, terminology and an introduction to the structure of recycled organics product market, previous R&D programs, scientific and demonstration trials, the role of agricultural extension and the need for performance benefits of recycled organics products.

• Volume 2: Viticulture
  Introduction to viticulture market segment, assessment of applied field trials; recycled organics product type, quality and application rate; experimental design; performance outcomes; gaps and limitations of studies; and recommendations.

• Volume 3: Fruit and orchard production
  Introduction to the fruit and orchard market segment, assessment of applied field trials; recycled organics product type, quality and application rate; experimental design; performance outcomes; gaps and limitations of studies; and recommendations.

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