From farm to fork – Eurofins Agro Testing

This article is part of a new series on Eurofins’ testing services.

If you traced your favourite foods back through the food chain – whether that’s steak, fries, ice cream, or anything in between – they all start with a connection to crops.?

Farmers and growers can’t meet global food demands unless their livestock have the right feed to thrive, and their crops are healthy, both of which rely on optimal soil health.

Tackling the ‘farm’ in ‘farm to fork’, agronomists from Eurofins Agro & Horti Testing guide farmers on biodiversity, carbon storage, essential nutrients, and disease control in soil.

Precise tests developed by Eurofins Agro Testing companies are helping farmers to find the answers to how to feed the world while protecting the environment.

Let’s take a look at what happens behind the scenes to ensure that farmers can sustain their production levels to feed the growing world population.

Soil quality

Soil properties must be just right to ensure it can host healthy crops. Eurofins Agro Testing laboratories provide farmers with insights into soil health, including water holding capacity, soil biodiversity, essential nutrients, carbon storage, and potential pollution.

Soil nutrients

The levels of various nutrients in soil, such as potassium, calcium, and phosphates, have a major influence on crop quality. Agronomists from Eurofins Agro Testing analyse the essential nutrients in soil to ensure crop quality and optimal yield.

Pest control in soil

Every farm that grows crops has to deal with plant parasitic nematodes, also known as eelworms. Through soil analysis, Eurofins Agro Testing companies can measure the quantities of nematodes on the farm. Eurofins Agro Testing’s nematode test, based on the latest DNA methods, indicates optimal crop rotation to control disease risk.

Milk production

High-quality feed starts on the pasture. Eurofins Agro Testing’s soil health analysis reveals exactly how the pasture should be managed to grow grass that can be turned into nutritious roughage for livestock. This leads to optimal milk production for the farmer.

To further optimise milk production, livestock need feed that provides them with sufficient energy, protein, and minerals, but feed composition can vary from batch to batch. Eurofins Agro Testing laboratories conduct feed value analysis to tell farmers exactly how many nutrients their livestock are consuming.

Greenhouse horticulture

Greenhouse horticulture requires careful monitoring, and analyses provided by Eurofins Horti give growers guidance on fertilisation, soil and crop health, and disease prevention.

Water quality

Low-quality water is a problem at many farms and often has negative consequences for the health of livestock. Eurofins Agro Testing laboratories analyse water for the presence of pathogens.

Want to learn more about Eurofins Agro Testing’s services?

Check out Chapter 3 in our new book, The Story of Eurofins – From humble beginnings to a global leader.