The River Wye

In 2022 our entire supply chain in the catchment generated 800 tonnes of phosphorous - less than 15% of the total phosphorous from agriculture, as estimated by Lancaster University.  Removing farms in our supply chain from the catchment would have no bearing on the majority of phosphorous in the region.

Manure is not spread on indoor poultry farms: they are sealed houses that stand on concrete.  Manure is spread on arable land and, if not done correctly, phosphates can enter the river.

Poultry manure is a fertiliser that’s highly valued, and widely used, by arable farmers, who pay for it if they don’t produce it themselves.

Avara Foods has not polluted the river.  We do not, and have not, spread manure in the catchment.  We have said that we will take accountability for the manure in our supply chain, and we will, but we will not, and cannot, take responsibility for how the land is farmed, how sewage is managed or the contribution of other businesses in the catchment.  Likewise we cannot control the water level in the river, how the river is managed or how it is overseen  - all of which play a significant role in the Wye's decline, are will be an essential part of its return to health.

Poultry manure is a widely used fertiliser.  If it were no longer available, the health of the Wye would still depend on the careful use of whatever fertiliser replaces it.  If that fertiliser also contined phosphates and if it was applied where the soil does not need it, levels would continue to grow.

Removing poultry manure would also not account for other ways in which phosphates enter the river, through water treatment and sewage overflows, and other forms of agriculture.

Indoor IPUs (farms that house over 40,000 birds) keep the manure separted from the land, so there is no run-off nor leaching through soil.  While poultry manure is a contributing factor to pollution in the Wye, its application on the land in the catchment  is the cause of the problem.  To address excess phosphorus in the catchment, both current and legacy, improved soil management and better enforcement of standards is essential. 

Soya comprises less than 25% of our birds' diets.  Our feed is made from a variety of UK cereals, including wheat, as well as amino acids and other nutrients that are needed to support healthy growth and development.

We've published a roadmap that details how we will prevent our supply chain from contributing to excess phosphorus in the Wye catchment.  This plan revolves around creating economically viable uses for poultry manure - collecting CO2 and biofuel for example - alongside tougher standards for that which is applied ot the land.

Our roadmap can only change aspects of the problem that are within our control.  This does not include wider river or land management practices, oversight and enforcement, water levels or the contributions of other businesses and individuals within the catchment.