Anaerobic digestion (AD) can significantly contribute to the success of UK industry in a number of ways, providing there is sufficient support by Government. AD can offer a fantastic return on investment (ROI) and good value for money, providing low-cost and low-carbon heat and power, clean transport fuel, and organic fertiliser. AD can also offer lots of local manufacturing jobs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It can help to reduce imports, thereby helping restore the UK’s balance of payments, while also helping the UK to meet its climate change targets through reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Bioscience and biotechnology are specifically mentioned in the Green Paper as one of the focus areas of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, which will create a new funding stream for R&D in technologies where the UK has the potential to take an industrial lead.
“We welcome the Government’s Green Paper and in particular the focus on investing in science, research and innovation, which is key to unlocking the full potential of the biogas industry worldwide” said ADBA Chief Executive Charlotte Morton. “We estimate that a government investment of £50 million over 5-7 years in a Centre for Anaerobic Biotechnology and Bioresources Research would provide the initiative to deliver a step change in the rate of development of anaerobic biotechnology, putting the UK at the heart of this £1 trillion global industry.”
Ms Morton added that AD can make an enormous long-term contribution to UK manufacturing and the low-carbon economy, and that ADBA is looking forward to making this case to Government and others over the coming months to ensure that the bioeconomy is central to the UK’s Industrial Strategy moving forward.
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