By Tony Goodger, policy director, Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS)
When I think of the East of England, I immediately think rich peaty soil ideal for growing a range of crops from salads to sugar beet, brassicas to potatoes.
One of the first impacts the UK along with many European countries felt from the Russian invasion of Ukraine was a jump in the price in the energy. Quite naturally the previous and current Governments both immediately started to raise the importance of UK energy security and when added to the climate change agenda, the push for net zero from renewable sources. Unsurprisingly then that solar developments have started to be fast tracked through planning.
Near to my home on the Rutland Lincolnshire border a solar farm called Mallard Pass has received planning permission. This behemoth of a development covers 2,238 acres of farmland. It is 4.2 miles long with a perimeter of over 25 miles making it equivalent to the size of almost 1,400 football pitches.
Solar grazing or as it is sometimes known, agrivoltaics, has been around for well over a decade. In the US for example, it is commonplace for poultry be they broilers or layers to range freely in among large solar developments.
The benefits are obvious. Energy security and food security, two harvests from one land mass and no need to keep the grass mowed.
In 2014, the NFU’s chief adviser renewable energy and climate change, Dr Jonathan Scurlock authored the BRE (2014) Agricultural Good Practice Guidance for Solar Farms in which he noted:
“Smaller solar parks can provide a light/shade environment for free-ranging poultry… Broiler chickens, laying hens and geese will all keep the grass down… Stocking density of up to 2000 birds per hectare is allowed…”
This would mean that at Mallard Pass Solar Farm, 838,000 birds could co-habit the site.
Birds and eggs whose production ‘impacts’ could surely be offset against the energy that the land is generating to provide a marketing narrative of net zero or better free range poultry meat and eggs.
Suddenly agriculture would stop looking like the ‘bad boy’ of climate impact and instead gain a halo effect that other industries would envy.
So, look out for solar farm developments. There are a lot planned on farmland. Seek out the owners and see if there are opportunities to grow your poultry and egg businesses within the scope of agrivoltaics.