A modern soil testing lab will be established in Moldova with the support of the Farmer-to-Farmer Program (FTF). The service will involve soil, water and plant testing, with the results being provided in maximum 24 hours from the moment the samples are delivered to the lab, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting a press release from USAID. “Soil testing is an essential opportunity very few Moldovan farmers are benefiting from in order to minimize their production risks and achieve modern agriculture performance,” said Donald Horneck, extension specialist and researcher at the University of Oregon, US. This expert has paid a visit to Moldova between February 5 and February 16 with the support of the Farmer-to-Farmer Program implemented in Moldova by the USAID-funded organization CNFA. The purpose of his visit was to assist the INAGRO Scientific and Technologic Park of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova in designing a modern soil testing lab. “This lab will play a major role in increasing Moldovan agriculture’s competitiveness, given that these services aren’t in a great demand nowadays and need to be both modernized and promoted,” said the U.S. expert. 80% of Moldova’s soils are chernozems that are considered to be the most fertile in the world. Currently, much of the agricultural land is subject to intense degradation processes. This generates diminution of fertility and has a negative impact on the environment. Soil testing is of great importance for the modern agriculture in ensuring favorable conditions for plant growing, human life and health, and the environment. The FTF program provides farmers’ groups, cooperatives and agribusinesses with the opportunity to benefit from free American consultancy in order to improve their performance by adopting a professional approach to the technical and financial issues.