That process may have started inadvertently in 1956 when the British administration of the Gilbert Islands in Micronesia put a levy on the export of phosphates-bird manure-used in fertiliser.

In a given day, I planted 7 seedlings, 8 strung peas, packed produce for sale, placed bird nets over the berries, weeded a few overgrown beds and put down manure along rows of young crops.