About Us:

Eco Diagnostics Ltd (established in October 2000) was set up primarily to exploit the use of diagnostic tools (using specific antibodies) for the detection and identification of a number of plant diseases, plus environmental contaminants within both the agricultural/horticultural and waste management industries. The idea was conceived by Dr Andrew C Groenhof, formerly Principal Scientist at an Exeter-based waste company, and Dr Chris R Thornton, Lecturer in Developmental Biology at the University of Exeter. Their collaborative work over a number of years has shown exciting results on the use of composts in plant disease suppression and this, in combination with established contacts in the agricultural and waste industries, led to the realisation that this could be exploited on a more commercial basis. The company was awarded a DTI Smart Award to develop a Lateral Flow System for the rapid detection of pathogens in field conditions (link to publications ). More recently, further funding has been secured from Landfill Tax Credits to apply this technology to monitor the fate of specific plant pathogens (e.g. clubroot and honey fungus); plus the processing of materials such as cardboard via the use of elevated levels of Trichoderma spp. through the composting process.

The skills within the company, plus its access to research laboratories at the University of Exeter, enables continued investigations into other relevant and commercially important plant diseases and consequently allows Eco Diagnostics Ltd to offer a detection service for a range of plant pathogens and/or compost antagonists. Furthermore, collaborative links have been established with Crop Enhancement Systems Ltd (CES) at Swaffam in Suffolk and Alchemy Laboratories in Dundee with respect to further trials and development work.

Eco Diagnostics Ltd also provides consultancy: giving advice and providing hands-on experience in the fields of agriculture, the environment and general waste management. With respect to these areas of expertise, and composting in particular, work involves advising the farming industry on the diversification into potentially lucrative waste management practices such as on-farm processing of green wastes and/or manures. Eco Diagnostics Ltd also provides initial guidance on how to set up composting sites and establishing the necessary audit trails for effective management of various organic waste streams. A number of composting projects using feedstock materials such as green waste, wood wastes and grass cuttings have been carried out in Cornwall, Shropshire and Stansted respectively.

About our people.. click here