Page 21 - Issue 72 Online

MANEA MATTERS
MANEA MATTERS
tractors and heavy farm machinery is currently is applied to selected fields. This digestate is
ongoing. the ‘waste product’ after the gas produced is
transferred to the grid. Bear in mind that the
There are a number of ways where agriculture
(which accounts for around 10% of the UK’s digester also powers our factory and the farm
greenhouse gas emissions) can assist towards buildings and yard.
the net zero target, including changes in Another method of reducing these emissions
technology and farming practices. is no-till agriculture. This means no ploughing
prior to planting, which potentially prevents
A large percentage of the UK’s nitrous oxide the release of nitrogen and phosphate into the
emissions comes from the soil; mostly due to atmosphere and encourages sequestration of
the breakdown of fertilisers and animal manure carbon dioxide through organic material in the
used to increase crop productivity. This is soil.
where technology can assist by monitoring the
available nitrogen in the soil, so that it is known Allpress Farms is making a concerted effort
specifically where on a field the nitrogen may be to do our part in working towards this target.
required and, using GPS systems and targeted We have had a base carbon footprint survey
application, the fertiliser is only applied to those undertaken, which gives us the platform from
areas. Our anaerobic digestate plant also assists which to see where we need to improve, and
in this regard as the digestate (with natural develop sensible and achievable targets.
nitrogen content, which is regularly tested)

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