Moy Park has unveiled a state-of-the-art poultry farm hailed as a ‘game-changer’ on its pathway to reach net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2040, according to a company press release.

Beech farm in Lincolnshire has been built from the ground up with sustainability in mind and can reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 100%, effectively taking the farm ‘off grid’ when all systems are operating at capacity.

Technologies used on the farm to reach net-zero emissions include ground source heat pumps to generate heating, heat exchanger systems to reduce overall heat usage, and solar technology capable of generating an impressive 1MW of electricity, which will work in tandem with lithium battery storage.

“Everything from the design and layout of the farm building to how we capture and recycle rainwater reflects our mantra of ‘reduce, reuse, renewable,” said Stephen Beagan, Head of Agri Estates for Moy Park. “Beech farm is a first for the poultry sector - through well thought out innovations, we have created an incredible 100% reduction in energy related GHG emissions – that represents a saving of 900 tonnes of CO2 a year. This is set to be a game-changer for the industry, particularly when taken in partnership with our other Scope 3 initiatives.”

"With over 700 farming partners across the UK, Moy Park plans to use Beech farm as a blueprint on its journey to reach net-zero across its agri estate," added Beagan. "The ground-breaking facility also utilises the latest biosecurity measures, ensuring the highest standards of safety and welfare for its birds."

“Like the customers we serve, our mission is to create better food for everyone sustainably from farm to fork," he said. "As part of this commitment we continue to develop future focused strategies in the areas of energy efficiency, emissions, water use, biodiversity and waste to reduce our environmental impact.”

Beech farm is the latest innovation revealed by Moy Park in its commitment to achieve net-zero emissions. Last year the firm’s pathway to tackle Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions developed alongside the Carbon Trust, was validated by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi).

The firm is also tackling Scope 3 emissions through a range of projects such as its ‘Farm Carbon Calculator’ that will monitor and track greenhouse gas emissions in real time at individual farm level, across its entire farming base.