Cost of production and performance
Cost of production and performance
Cost of production and performance
UK cattle facts and figures
Beef and lamb at a glance
Daily finished auction markets by region
Weekly finished auction markets by region
Weekly store markets by region
GB deadweight cattle prices by region
EU deadweight cattle and calf prices
Red meat country of origin audit
Cost of production benchmarks - suckler herds
UK sheep facts and figures
Beef and lamb at a glance
Daily finished auction markets by region
Weekly finished auction markets by region
Weekly store markets by region
Red meat country of origin audit
Cereals and Oilseeds at a glance
UK cereals supply and demand estimates
UK human and industrial cereal usage
Spring Planting and Variety Survey
Milk to feed price ratio
EU farmgate milk prices (incl. organic)
Cream income to a liquid processor
Dairy cattle and rearing calf prices
EU milk deliveries (incl. organic)
UK and EU cow numbers
UK pig facts and figures
GB deadweight pig prices (EU spec)
GB deadweight pig prices (UK spec)
Pig to feed wheat price ratio
UK pig numbers and holdings
UK pig meat marketing chain
EU pig slaughterings and production
Red meat country of origin audit
Rearing and finishing 7kg - 110kg
Cost of production in selected countries
Cost of production and net margins
Pig performance trends and COP sensitivity for feed and performance
There are well-documented benefits associated with the regular supply of traditional organic amendments to soil, which include manures, sewage, and composted green waste.
Soils that receive such biological inputs may be enhanced in many ways, including improvements to their nutritional content and moisture-retaining capacity.
The potential soil-improving nature associated with more novel product streams is helping to fuel demand for them. In turn, this is driving innovation in supply – both in terms of the raw materials used and the product types available.
A recent example of a novel approach is a partnership between Harper Adams University and Angus Horticulture Limited. They united to investigate how to turn chitin-containing by-products into high-value materials, such as soil amendments.
The second most abundant polysaccharide after cellulose, chitin is found in many organisms, including crustaceans (e.g. crabs, shrimps and lobsters), molluscs (e.g. squid and octopi), fungi and insects.
The UK has numerous chitinous by-product streams, associated with shellfish, mushroom and black soldier fly production.
Globally, independent research has demonstrated soil benefits following the application of various chitinous amendments.
This project aimed to improve the quantity and quality of independent data available for UK chitin sources and cropping systems.
A literature review found that soil-applied chitin or chitosan have several functions, including increasing organic matter, mycorrhizal activity, and plant growth.
Application of chitin and chitinous soil amendments was also found to be associated with activity against a wide array of crop pests and diseases, including clubroot, wart disease, late blight, and potato cyst nematodes.
The evidence of pest and disease suppression was primarily associated with elevated activity of micro-organisms that use chitinase to break down cell walls.
However, other mechanisms have been identified, such as the generation of ammonia following microbial degradation (microbes feeding on the chitin), direct interference with membranes, and the triggering of plant defences (through elicitation).
The researchers analysed three product types of particular interest to UK markets:
They found that these products contain relatively high levels of organic matter (25–73%) and macronutrients.
Additionally, products were associated with high carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratios, with good potential for the nitrogen to be mineralised and made available to crops.
Several samples of each chitinous by-product were submitted to a laboratory for chitin analysis. Unfortunately, the results were largely inconsistent, possibly due to microbial breakdown.
The scarcity of institutes and companies providing appropriate analyses highlights an area for development, should the practice of applying chitinous by-products become more acceptable.
Currently in the UK, shellfish and insect by-products are classed as animal by-products (ABPs). As such, government guidelines need to be followed to provide a route to application on land.
Spent mushroom substrate is classified as a non-meat food waste and subject to different regulations. For example, the ‘U10’ exemption in England allows up to 50 tonnes of spent mushroom substrate to be spread per hectare of agricultural land each year. In Scotland, application is regulated by SEPA.
A COSHH assessment should be used to help minimise risks during handling, transport, and processing (such as composting), as well as application to land.
However, following application, allergen risks associated with chitinous by-products are low.
The legislative situation on the use of such products is anticipated to alter following the implementation of new UK fertiliser product regulations.
Expected in 2023, the regulations are likely to include more detailed specifications of the requirements for soil improvers and amendments, and organic fertilisers, than the current legislation.
The materials investigated in this project resonate with a circular economy (and bioeconomy) that straddles the aquaculture, insect and mushroom farming and agricultural sectors.
Adoption of such materials could contribute to a low-carbon economy and help the government reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage.
However, this work has identified many practicalities that require addressing to maximise the potential of such streams – in terms of their production and use.
The lessons from this project form a foundation for future research to help bring innovative soil amendment products to the market.
Access the full report on the use of chitinous biowaste streams as soil health amendments
This project was part of an AHDB/BBSRC partnership that aimed to support the agricultural transition to net zero.
Project costs were met through BBSRC’s Farm Sustainability Fund. The partnership supported ten projects that addressed priorities identified by farmers, including ways to cut greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage.
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