Alasa: Agricultural laboratory association of southern Africa ‐ ensuring reliable analyses

Although there have been various quality assurance schemes operative in South Africa for several years, efforts were largely fragmented and informal. Initially the Fertilizer Society of South Africa, together with representatives of Government departments, cooperatives, private laboratories, research councils, and universities met informally to discuss the analysis of materials of agricultural importance: soils, plant material, fertilizers, liming materials, animal feeds, and waters. The need for a more formal structure was long felt and it came to fruition with the formation of Agricultural Laboratory Association of Southern Africa (ALASA) in September 1993. Apart from a constitution, there is a central council comprising representatives of subcommittees representing the different disciplines. Although lots has yet to be put in place, it is confidently expected that this will go a long way to ensuring reliable analyses of materials of agricultural importance in Southern Africa.