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A modern research laboratory meant to provide research assistance in the areas of testing of fertiliser, soil and sediment qualities has been inaugurated in Sowutuom, a suburb of Accra. The Envaserv Research Consult Laboratory and Office Complex (ERC) will also provide services in the areas of pesticides residue, effluent in drinking water, petroleum quality and environmental quality compliance monitoring. Minister of Agriculture Speaking at the opening ceremony before a tour of the facility, the Minister of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Mr Clement Kofi Humado, said the opening of the centre was timely, indicating that the provision of fertiliser and soil testing quality services would help control the quality of fertiliser and land for users to have value for money. With the designation of ERC as part of other laboratories to provide research assistance to MoFA, Mr Humado said he was optimistic that the interest of farmers against fertiliser nutrient deficiencies and mislabelling would be safeguarded. Environmentally-friendly activities He added that the activities of ERC was environmentally friendly, and would protect the environment from heavy metals and other soil contaminants. Mr Humado stated that the Fertiliser Act, (Act 803) mandated the MoFA to regulate fertilisers and permit it to collaborate with accredited laboratories in testing the quality of fertilisers in the country. He called on research laboratories in the country to use appropriate analytical methods to accurately determine the contents of fertilisers so that farmers could have value for money. �The ministry will continue to collaborate with Envaserv Research Consult in the areas of fertiliser, soil analysis and other areas that will be deemed appropriate,� he noted. MP for the area The Member of Parliament for the Anyaa/Sowutuom Constituency, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, said the centre would create job opportunities for the teeming youth in the area. She implored everyone in the area to put a high premium on the services provided by the organisation, particularly the training and capacity building. Ms Botchway lauded the efforts of the company and the services it provided, urging it to do more to meet the many demands of the institutions that would need its services.