Farming Monthly National January 2018 | Page 25

| Energy regulatory benefits. “We look forward to working with farmers on our AD Certification Scheme to support them in building and running their AD plants to high standards.” Marie Fallon, Director of Regulated Industry at the Environment Agency, said: “The Environment Agency welcomes the AD Certification Scheme as a positive intervention by the industry to improve performance in the anaerobic digestion sector. We share the determination in reducing pollution incidents which is a risk to the reputation of the industry. We will continue to work with ADBA to share evidence and information to achieving that goal.” Rick Brunt, Head of Vulnerable Workers, Agriculture, Waste and Recycling Unit at the Health & Safety Executive, said: “Seeing ADBA’s AD Certification Scheme progress to the next stage is an excellent example of the industry working together driving improvement of its own standards and expectations. It clearly demonstrates what can be achieved through the collaboration of a diverse range of organisations spanning operators, insurers and regulators, and has resulted in a scheme that will not only improve health and safety but also environmental and operational performance. I hope that we will www.farmingmonthly.co.uk see the remainder of the AD industry embracing the scheme with the same level of enthusiasm as those that have worked on its development.” Jonathan Scurlock, Chief Adviser on Renewable Energy and Climate Change at the NFU, said: “The NFU recognises the unique role that AD can play in generating on-farm energy while helping to improve nutrient and soil management. The ADBA AD Certification Scheme is an important tool in helping operators of on-farm AD plants meet high environmental, health and safety, and operational standards. It has been great to see a wide variety of stakeholders coming together to develop voluntary accreditation of good practice, helping to raise confidence and drive better performance in what is an important industry for British farmers.” Simon Blades, AD Manager at Beeswax Dyson Farming, one of the operators involved in the pilot phase of the scheme, said: “At Beeswax Dyson Farming we believe the ADBA AD Certification Scheme will help AD owners and operators identify key areas for improvement. It will enable them to maintain safety and operational standards, which in turn will help improve the industry as a whole. Being involved in the pilot scheme and mock assessment has helped our business identify areas for improvement.” Stefan Jimenez Wisler, Land Use Pol