Lord de Mauley, Defra Minister for Resource Management, will be speaking at the UK’s largest dedicated anaerobic digestion and biogas trade show UK AD & Biogas 2013, 3-4 July, NEC Birmingham, on ‘Realising environmental benefits from managing food waste’.
Commenting on the news Charlotte Morton, Chief Executive, ADBA said: “Lord de Mauley has one of the most interesting remits in government, with waste reduction, sustainable use of resources and the transition to a circular economy rising up the political agenda. These policy areas are already contributing a huge amount to the UK economy, and offer significant potential for green growth, including through the expansion of the anaerobic digestion industry which has almost doubled in size in the last year.
“I look forward to hearing how Lord de Mauley’s view on AD’s role in sustainable waste treatment is evolving and his vision for reducing food waste to landfill.”
Gwyn Jones, ADBA Board Director and former Vice President, NFU, said: “I would like Lord de Mauley to give the AD industry some stability – a strong political steer which recognises and supports AD is very much needed.”
“The highlight of the event for me is the land use, sustainable use of natural resource, sustainable intensification theme, which all leads to the sustainable development of AD. Anaerobic digestion ticks so many boxes and I think many are yet to realise the opportunities it provides, and I am glad to say that this country is rapidly becoming a leader in the field.”
Seminar speaker James Miles-Hobbs, Director, Rural Development Associates Limited and Winner of Farmers Weekly “Farm Adviser of The Year” 2011, said: “I would like to hear how Defra is going to get a more level playing field for food waste AD operators on their day-to-day environmental requirements, compared to their European competitors.
“The most interesting thing I am looking forward to is hearing about the changing marketplace for food waste and changing attitudes from the food and drink industry.”
AD industry stalwart, Michael Chesshire, Director, Evergreen Gas said: “Defra’s continued support for manure-based on-farm anaerobic digestion is essential to the development of appropriately-scaled AD technologies for farmers to reduce agriculture’s carbon footprint.”
The debate will continue on the 3-4 July at UK AD & Biogas 2013, where the many benefits of AD to farming will be key topics with dedicated sessions on the role of AD in sustainable farming, the challenge of sustainable intensification, building a business plan and making the business case for on farm AD. With a host of on-farm anaerobic digestion content available at UK AD & Biogas 2013, ADBA has also now published a handy farmers’ guide to the UK’s only AD and biogas trade show.
