New Tech Demo To Be Granted Aid To Support Pig and Poultry Producers - IRELAND - The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan TD, today announced her intention to introduce a Scheme to support the demonstration of new technologies to help the agriculture sector meet the requirements of the Nitrates Directive.

The purpose of the Scheme, details of which are being finalised at present with a view to an early introduction, is to look at new and emerging technologies for the treatment of livestock manures, in particular from the pig and poultry sectors.

Minister Coughlan said the Scheme envisages granting financial support for up to 10 projects throughout the country which would demonstrate the advantages of emerging technologies, in reducing the volume of livestock manures or their nutrient content. Such examples could include fluidised bed combustion or treatment plants comprising of anaerobic/aerobic digestion systems. The maximum investment ceiling per project will be €1 million and the total State contribution to these demonstration projects, at a grant-rate of 40%, will be up to €4 million. The Minister stated that it would be particularly advantageous if some of these projects had a renewable energy dimension.

The Minister added:- “I am aware of very keen interest by various parties in such exciting and innovative technologies and I am confident of attracting exceptional demonstration projects which will establish best practice in the future”.

The Environmental Protection Agency is supportive of these initiatives announced by the Minister, in particular those relating to anaerobic digestion, and regards them as important from an environmental perspective. The EPA has been examining, in conjunction with the Department, various environmental issues relating to the pig and poultry sectors arising from the implementation of the Nitrates Directive.

This latest development follows the recent announcement by the Minister of proposals for a revised Farm Waste Management Scheme. The revised Scheme will provide, inter alia, for the inclusion of the pig and poultry sectors for the first time, for significantly increased grant rates and investment ceilings, and for the introduction of higher grant rates for specialised equipment with specific environmental advantages. In this latter context, the revised Scheme will provide financial support for the installation of decanter centrifuge systems, particularly on pig farms.

The revised Farm Waste Management Scheme requires formal state aid approval from the European Commission and the application for such approval has already been lodged. The Minister is confident that the new Farm Waste Management Scheme will be in operation by January next.

Source: The Department of Agriculture and Food - 22nd November 2005