Ireland's Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill and
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster have launched a small business research initiative competition designed to
find alternative, sustainable ways to use poultry litter that they hope will
both meet the requirements of the EU Nitrates and Water Framework Directives and
support industry development.
"Having met with a range of stakeholders, I believe there are potential
options that should be tested," said O'Neill. The buying power of the public is
expected to be a key driver of innovation in the competition.
"The broiler poultry sector in Northern Ireland is a significant part of
the local economy, sustaining on-farm employment for over 1,400 people, with a
further 4,600 people employed in processing, and generating over 14 percent of
the gross output of the local agriculture sector," said Foster. "The launch of
this [small business research initiative] competition is therefore an important
step forward in helping to address this major issue to ensure the sustainability
of the local poultry sector and its growth."
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