AQW 12460/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 23/05/2024
Answered On Date: 03/06/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail (i) the contact and feedback he has had with farmers regarding the creation of a biomethane industry; and (ii) whether any estimates have been made as to the potential for this industry to reduce carbon output from agriculture.

Answer:

I recently met the Ulster Farmers Union to discuss the benefits of a growing sustainable biomethane sector. In addition, my department has engaged directly with farmers through on farm CAFRE slurry management events in January 2024 and with the broader industry. Feedback from stakeholders recognises the benefits of biomethane production in reducing both our carbon footprint and excess nutrients.

My department also delivered a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) in 2023 on the Sustainable Utilisation of Livestock Slurry (SULS). As part of this project, suppliers had direct engagement with farmers and issued surveys to garner feedback on the supply and management of slurry as a feedstock for anaerobic digestion to produce biomethane.

Ongoing Climate Action Plan mitigation modelling has included assessments of the positive impact on agriculture sector greenhouse gas (GHG) and ammonia emissions of increasing the proportion of managed livestock manures redirected to anaerobic digestion as envisaged in recent reports produced by Queen’s University Belfast, Action Renewables and KPMG on the potential for development of a biomethane industry in Northern Ireland.