ALASA - CULTURAL-LABORATORY-ASSOCIATION-OF-SOUTHERN-AFRICA - ENSURINGRELIABLE ANALYSES

Although there have been various quality assurance schemes operative i n South Africa for several years, efforts were largely fragmented and informal. Initially the Fertilizer Society of South Africa, together w ith representatives of Government departments, cooperatives, private l aboratories, research councils, and universities met informally to dis cuss the analysis of materials of agricultural importance: soils, plan t material, fertilizers, liming materials, animal feeds, and waters. T he need for a more formal structure was long felt and it came to fruit ion with the formation of Agricultural Laboratory Association of South ern Africa (ALASA) in September 1993. Apart from a constitution, there is a central council comprising representatives of subcommittees repr esenting the different disciplines. Although lots has yet to be put in place, it is confidently expected that this will go a long way to ens uring reliable analyses of materials of agricultural importance in Sou thern Africa.