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 rivers.
Regulated operations
Griffiths wrote: "George Monbiot is wrong in his belief that chicken farms harm rivers. Our farms have no direct contact with the soil and operate under permits issued and regulated by the Environment Agency, giving transparency on how manure is managed on site and where it goes when it leaves."
He added that 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.
Rhetoric versus reality
"It may be convenient to blame a sector he does not like for a problem, but that diverts attention from addressing the issues that some of our 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 said.
Will Raw argued that dismissing modern poultry farms as "factories" does little to advance serious discussion about producing food while protecting the environment. He said policymakers must hear from farmers who have balanced custodianship of the land with food production, and constructive dialogue on issues like planning reform is essential.
Investment in sustainability
Raw stated: "British poultry farmers are continuing to support sustainability by investing millions of pounds into new technology and infrastructure, ensuring valuable nutrients that are crucial to producing food are utilised responsibly. The real challenge is not choosing between food and nature, but finding practical ways to deliver both." He invited Monbiot to visit a farm to see the commitment of British poultry farmers.
