Trial saves pig industry around £15.3m
AHDB’s accelerated ammonia monitoring trial shows that the British pig industry is successfully reducing ammonia emissions, saving producers an estimated £15.3m.
Pig producers must meet the Best Available Technique Associated Emission Levels. If they cannot prove they are doing so, they must pay mitigation costs. The trial provides that proof and allows for updates in regulating the sector through accurate annual pollution inventory reporting and future habitat risk assessments.
The trial has provided a comprehensive and valuable study of ammonia emissions from different pig production systems, improved the industry’s understanding of emissions from the pork sector and demonstrated the reduction in emissions.
We are delighted to be able to present the most comprehensive and recent study of its kind. It demonstrates compliance on all housing types, which is to the industry’s credit. Importantly, it also sets a benchmark against which we can measure further reductions in emissions in the future.
The aim of this trial was to establish eight new ammonia emission factors for a specific and representative range of pig housing types. The results not only provide these, but also demonstrate that farmers have decreased ammonia emissions since the historic data was first published.
Zanita Markham, AHDB Pork knowledge transfer manager
