Microbiologist for Compost Tea Development - ARE Activity

Project Background

The Lebanon Agriculture and Rural Empowerment (ARE) program is a multi-year project funded by USAID to develop rural economics in Lebanon through support to the agro-food sector and other industries to unlock local and export sales potential while also creating jobs and increasing farmers’ and worker’s incomes. ARE will increase jobs; improve incomes; improve female participation and employment opportunities; increase domestic and export sales; increase private sector investment; improve access to finance; link value chain actors to domestic and international markets; and improve farm production through improved practices, technology, increased volume, and/or decreased cost, sales potential while also creating jobs and increasing farmers’ and workers’ incomes.

Summary of Position

The objective of this consultancy is to identify, assess & elaborate the most cost-effective way or methodology to produce locally at the farms in a timely manner organic compost tea material of good quality at a commercial scale. The consultancy shall be produced in an interactive way with the Compost Tea production team at the “House of Lilies” to ensure effectiveness and applicability to the local conditions.

The Lebanon Agriculture and Rural Empowerment (ARE) program is supporting House of Lillies to scale their compost tea production. The “Owner”, the House of Lilies (HOL) is an agritourism family project that aims to practice sustainable farming for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide wholesome farming products of outstanding quality for the guest community & for export. HOL have two farms 9 km apart at Quasmiyeh (6 m above sea level, 87 dunum net) & Insariyeh (100 m above sea level, 273 dunum net) in South Lebanon. HOL is a proud member of QOOT Agri-Food Innovation Cluster, the first Lebanese agri-food consortium to collaboratively catalyze and innovate the agri-food sector in Lebanon.

The provision of services to provide “Technical Assistance for the production of Organic Compost Tea” aims to optimize the process of Compost Tea production and set the road map for scaling the production locally at the farms, in an Efficient, Competitive Cost-Effective way. The “House of Lilies” obtained a grant from USAID-ARE SAFI Program implemented by Berytech for supplying the necessary equipment for scaling up the Compost Tea production including the services of a Microbiology Expert for the provision of technical assistance for the process.

House of Lilies has been experimenting the local production of “Compost Tea” as a substitute of Compost. Compost Tea is a concentrate of beneficial, aerobic microbes. Compost Tea can be produced at the farm with minimum external inputs. It is a 100% green natural environmentally friendly products that increase soil fertility & yields at competitive prices without the side effects associated with synthetic inputs and is key for the strategic shift towards organic farming.

Deliverables and Timeline

General Tasks

The individual consultant shall provide his technical expertise and knowhow for assisting the “House of Lilies” in optimizing the Compost Tea production process and scaling it in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

The main tasks requested from the Micobiology Expert in close coordination with the team of the “House of Lilies” are the following:

Task 1: Based on an analysis of laboratory tests to be determined by the consultant, available technical data sheets of the Composts and price of Compost in $/Ton, identify from the local market readily available Composts and Vermicomposts materials, the best “Inoculant” Compost material or mix of Compost materials to be used for the compost tea production.

Task 2: Design the best Compost Tea mix, recipe or recipes to produce a rich and effective compost tea. The consultant shall advise on the most suitable and economical types and proportions of organic additives that can be added as a supplement to the Compost Tea mix in order to make it most effective.

Task 3: Optimize the production technique using the Vortex Brewers in accordance with the best available practices, elaborate the related methodology & procedures for producing the Compost Tea. The consultant shall perform this task based on real batch production trials upon receipt of the production equipment with focus on the production process sustainability (i.e. getting the best possible Compost Tea under ambient conditions or minimum control of ambient parameters).

Task 4: Identify the Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) to be monitored under a Quality Control Plan to be elaborated for the Compost Tea product. The QCP shall be designed in such a way that checks and controls can be done at the production site. In that respect, the consultant shall issue a list of instruments & tools needed with purchasing specifications for the procurement of the same.

Deliverables

All deliverables are to be submitted in electronic format in the English Language. The required deliverables under the terms of reference are: All deliverables shall be submitted in draft version for the Owner’s review & comments following which these are amended and re-submitted for final approval.

Deliverable 1: 

Inception Report: Report on an overview of the Project terms of reference with possible suggestions and additions including an identification of the various options and scenarios for the Compost Tea production road map; It also includes a detailed planification & methodology for the rest of the assignment. 

Duration: 1 month

Deliverable 2:

Site Specific On-Farm Compost Tea Production Handbook.

Covers Tasks 1, 2 & 3. Should be produced in English Language.

The Production Handbook shall clearly state in writing the methodology, procedure, and rationale for making the Inoculant Compost materials selection with focus on the diversity & richness of beneficial microbes, bacteria and fungi content and reproduction potential of the same. The conclusion of Task 1 should include recommendations on the best options based on technical and financial feasibility.

The Production Handbook shall clearly state in writing the methodology, procedure, and rationale for making the Organic Additives selection with focus on locally sourced organic supplements. Upon the completion of Task 2, conduct a presentation of the outcomes within the framework of a brainstorming seminar with the Owner’s technical team to identify the composting tea solution that will be adopted. The outcome of Task 2 will be the approval by the Owner of the selected compost tea solution. To be noted that more than one compost tea solution may be considered.

The Production Handbook shall include the Standard Operating Procedures and process mapping for the final designed processes.

Duration: 4 months

Deliverable 3:

Quality Control Manual

Covers Task 4. Should include quality monitoring methodology & QCP with check lists, inspections & hold points.

Duration: 4 months

Qualifications

• University Degree in micro-biology, biology, agriculture, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in his field.
• A Microbiology Expert with an Agriculture and Soil Fertility background will be best fit for the task. The consultant should have experience in soil microbiology and in fertilizer/compost production processes.

Place of Assignment

The consultant’s primary work location will be on-site at HoL in Qasmiye, Lebanon ( Jnoub).

Reporting

The Consultant will report directly to the ARE Senior Value Chain and Market Systems Technical Advisor and work closely with House of Lillies.