Alex Kaminsky, the man at the head of Diamond-R Fertiliser Company’s Caribbean operations, has again insisted that his company’s product is clean and poses no harm to humans.

Pointing to tests carried out on the controversial fertiliser by the Bureau of Standards Jamaica and the Scientific Research Council which found that the product was safe, Kaminsky, in a letter to the Observer, said that there is no risk for soil or water contamination or any other underground or above ground contamination from the proper usage of the fertiliser.

Following is the full text of his letter.

Dear Editor,

Diamond-R Fertiliser Company, Inc sincerely and wholeheartedly reaches out to the Jamaican politicians, Jamaican people and most importantly to the Jamaican farmers.

We would like to humbly stress that our fertiliser is of supreme quality, plentiful nutritional value and most importantly free of bacteria, free of pathogens and absolutely free of all things harmful to human beings. We do not have waste in our fertiliser. As tested and proved by two independent local Jamaican laboratories and further supported by consistent, random and independent lab testing of the United States Government.

Our blended (term used in Jamaica is manufactured) fertiliser as most commonly used by the worldwide agricultural industry and as used by the local Jamaican farmers is a blend of fertiliser referred to as NPK fertiliser. This stands for Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium, they are the essential nutrients.

The NPK nutrients are mixed in various proportions for specific requirements for growth of individual fruits and vegetables. In Jamaica the most commonly used N:P:K blends are: 16:9:18, 11:22:22, 14:28:14, 15:5:35, 17:0:20, 17:0:17.

A banana fruit will require a different blend than sugarcane. Cocoa will need a different variation of NPK than Tomato. So on and so forth.

NPK fertiliser is also mixed with a small portion of soil conditioner called granulite. The purpose of this granulite is to increase and improve the healthy microbial activity of the soil creating a more natural fertile environment for the roots of the crops, allowing them to grow and to flourish.

Yes, the granulite is processed from biosolids, which is from the word Biology. Biology is the study of nature, the science of life or living matter in all its forms and phenomena. Including the life cycle of cellular respiration, excretion, and reproduction.

Our granulite is processed from class AA biosolids which meets or exceeds the Exceptional Quality Standards of the Government of the United States of America Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under Federal Regulation 40CFR Part 503 and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) under Rule 62-640.850. THIS IS THE STRICTEST PROTECTION FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION IN THE WORLD!!!

Class AA granulite is tasteless, odourless and clean. It is without waste or bacteria. Class AA granulite is not subject to any harvesting restrictions and offers essential plant nutrients and micronutrients that are released into the soil to improve crop production through chemical, physical, and biological activity.

Diamond-R uses only AA class rated fertiliser. In our long 66-year history we have operated with a clean conscience, with integrity, with humility and with an utmost wholehearted courtesy and respect for the consumer of our fertiliser, the farmers.

Diamond-R employees stem from roots of farmers who started this fertiliser company to improve their own crop yields in Florida citrus, and some of their current executives are well educated second and third generation farmers. They are a good, solid and reputable company that has built their business on long-term relationships developed from an unwavering commitment to produce excellent quality fertiliser. There is no faecal material in our fertiliser.

The blending of high nutrient quality NPK with granulite produces an odour that is unfamiliar, peculiar and perhaps initially unpleasant. But proper handling, including hand washing after usage, is recommended when using any non-perishable item, especially fertiliser.

Fertiliser is a necessary part of today’s societies throughout the world. Food chains depend on it and without fertiliser the world would not be able to sustain itself. NPK fertiliser is one of the most commonly accepted and most widely used fertilisers in the world today. It is also the safest and cleanest fertiliser available commercially. It is not for organic farming.

Organic farming has its origins in the successful utilisation of manure or compost with crop rotation, biological pest control and mechanical cultivation. This type of farming can be achieved with proper sustainable farming methods. And with the ever increasing assumption and perception that organic is better, there is increasing worldwide demand for the label “organic”.

However, more study and understanding of world economies is needed to gage the true benefit of lower crop yield for a higher crop cost, including more research to the supposed added health benefits, and personally, I am for it.

Fertiliser from Diamond-R does not have metal toxicity, they do not exceed the levels of heavy metals permitted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and are lab tested regularly. There is no risk for soil contamination, water contamination or any other underground or above ground contamination from the proper usage of our fertiliser. Documentation and proof are available.

Diamond-R exports fertiliser throughout the world and does not separate good quality or bad quality fertiliser. We have only one quality. Our bags are stamped “For Export Only” as a requirement of the United States of America Department of Customs, and the farmers of Jamaica have spoken about their appreciation of our fertiliser, NPK.

They are the ones who know that the truth is the truth. And our Diamond-R fertiliser yielded the best crop results that have not been seen in a long time!

Alex Kaminsky

Managing director Caribbean

Diamond-R Fertiliser Company, Inc