DEAR SIR: The agricultural industry is undoubtedly navigating through uncertain times.

However, rarely has there ever been such opportunity for alternative approaches to strengthen the sector.

One such opportunity exists through the utilising of alternative energy and supply sources, particularly in biogas and biofertiliser.

As we look towards achieving a 50% reduction in carbon output and 70% reliance on renewable energy by 2030 (currently this stands at 16%), anaerobic digesters are a largely overlooked, but are potentially vital resources to the agri sector in Ireland.

Biogas can be extracted from manures and slurries to feed the energy requirements of local business through the breaking down of organic material by microorganisms.

Biogas is then burned to produce electricity for the farmland or energy grid.

The utilising of this potential resource would protect farms from external risks as they move towards self-sufficiency and long-term viability. This can be particularly beneficial to the dairy industry and farms in peripheral locations.

The additional resource derived from anaerobic digesters is biofertiliser, which can be used in place of chemical fertiliser sourced externally at a cost.

I would urge the agricultural sector in Ireland to push our Government towards enabling new approaches to safeguard the industry, by lobbying for construction and installation grants, tax exemptions, long-term feed-in tariffs, carbon credits and nutrient credits to aid in the promotion of alternative approaches such as anaerobic digesters.

It is vital that the industry can adapt to an increasingly volatile market and it is up to the farming community to lead the change.