Opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide eco-energy and provide income for producers were highlighted at this year’s International Egg Commission (IEC) annual conference.
Speaking to delegates at the recent IEC conference in Venice, James Corbett, Ridgeway Foods Group managing director, talked about handling of poultry litter, which for some producers represents a significant cost, while for others it is a source of additional income.
Poultry litter in the UK has a market value of between £10-15/tonne in crop available nitrogen fertiliser replacement value on average over the year, while in other countries, producers have to dry and pellet the manure before it leaves the farm. It often has to be stored before being used or sold, and storage means that infrastructure needs to be in place and run-off needs to be captured to prevent water pollution.
Corbett questioned whether farmers were making the most of their litter. His company has successfully miniaturised and patented fluidised bed combustion for the reliable combustion of untreated poultry and layer manure to produce heat and electricity for use on-site. Additionally, he said the technology was proven over substantial operating hours and now had 14 units installed in the UK for poultry and layer farms.
As well as heat, it produces a valuable organic fertiliser with high P and K levels, and Corbett said he is now developing solutions for municipal sludge, meat and bone meal and digestate from anaerobic digesters.
