Cranswick under fire for one of the largest poultry farms in Europe

<i class="">Cranswick </i>wants to house 870,000 chickens and 14,000 pigs at connected sites in Norfolk. Photo: Canva<span class=""> </span> — *Cranswick* wants to house 870,000 chickens and 14,000 pigs at connected sites in Norfolk. Photo: Canva

UK poultry and pork producer, Cranswick, has come under fire over plans to build one of the largest farms in the UK.

Cranswick wants to house 870,000 chickens and 14,000 pigs at connected sites in Methwold and Feltwell in Norfolk, which gained the support of former UK prime minister and constituency MP Liz Truss.

When asked about her views on the proposed facilities, Truss said that she “would be very happy to live next to a pig farm”, saying she is supportive of farming provided it “does not have a negative impact on local residents”.

While she has raised residents’ concerns about potential noise and pollution, she told local media: “I am proud of Norfolk’s agriculture and believe food security is vital for our nation. I am supportive of farming provided it does not have a negative impact on local residents.”

Critics

But the plans have been criticised by local villagers and animal rights activists, who are concerned about a potential rise in HGV traffic, pollution from the site causing health issues and having an adverse impact on the natural environment.

Cranswick has said the twin schemes – which would create one of the largest livestock sites in the country – will be a “sustainable, modern farm” that will help deliver affordable produce, create new jobs and boost the local economy.

Carbon Inset Pilot Scheme

The criticism comes as the company announced that it will be undertaking further research into their Carbon Inset Pilot Scheme, designed to enhance the firm’s regenerative agriculture initiatives. Working with Hutchinson’s and Agri Sound, the 3-year project aims to investigate and improve the carbon sequestration of soils and increase biodiversity across its farms.

Carbon insetting is the process of integrating nature-based solutions within a business supply chain with the aim of reducing the amount of carbon emitted. This process, the company believes, will significantly contribute to Cranswick’s business goal of achieving net zero by 2040, using its own vertically integrated agricultural supply chain as opposed to external carbon offsetting schemes.

Hutchinson’s have been using their Omnia Terramap technology to scan fields with their gamma ray detection systems to measure the levels of organic and inorganic carbon within their soils on 250ha of Cranswick farms across the East of England. Sections of the land will then be planted with a range of wildflower, grass and legume mixes before the process is repeated to track the uplift in carbon that is sequestrated in the soils over time.

As part of the Inset scheme, the team from Cranswick will also be working with AgriSound to help further develop their poly monitors, enabling AgriSounds bioacoustics listening technology to become more advanced, allowing a more varied range of species to be detected via remote listening devices, to give a clearer picture of biodiversity levels on Cranswick farms.

Ash Gilman, Cranswick director of agricultural strategy: “We are determined that by being able to verify and demonstrate our leveraging of nature-based solutions, this Carbon Insetting Scheme will keep us solidly on track to net zero carbon emissions by 2040. By sharing this blueprint for the scheme within our wider agri-food industry in future, we hope to set a new standard for the adoption of sustainability within it.”