Richard Griffiths, chief executive of the British Poultry Council, and Will Raw, chair of the NFU Poultry Board, have responded to an article by George Monbiot in which he argued that industrial poultry farming is killing Britain's rivers. In a letter to the Guardian, they assert that Monbiot's claims are wrong and that the sector operates responsibly.
Farms operate under strict permits
Griffiths states that chicken farms have no direct contact with the soil and operate under permits issued and regulated by the Environment Agency. This provides transparency on how manure is managed on site and where it goes when it leaves. The chicken manure produced in the UK is used either for energy generation or as a fertiliser by other farming sectors, with full traceability and often transported across the country to where it is most needed.
He argues that it may be convenient to blame a sector Monbiot does not like for a problem, but that diverts attention from addressing the issues that some rivers are facing. 'At some point, the reality of food production, and the fact that we do it well and responsibly, will have to supplant the social-media-friendly rhetoric,' Griffiths writes.
Constructive dialogue needed
Raw adds that by dismissing modern poultry farms as 'factories', Monbiot does little to advance the serious discussion needed about the challenges of producing the nation's food while also protecting and enhancing the environment. Policymakers have a responsibility to hear from all those affected by their decisions, not least farmers who have long balanced their custodianship of the land with producing food.
He emphasises that constructive dialogue between the farming sector, government, regulators and the public over issues such as planning reform is essential if the UK is to meet environmental requirements and achieve domestic food security. British poultry farmers are continuing to support sustainability by investing millions of pounds into new technology and infrastructure, ensuring valuable nutrients crucial to producing food are utilised responsibly.
Real challenge: delivering food and nature
Raw concludes that the real challenge is not choosing between food and nature, but finding practical ways to deliver both. He invites Monbiot to visit a farm to see that British poultry farmers remain fully committed to playing their part in sustainable food production.
