Cattle stand in a pasture on an Alberta farm in this November 2023 file photo. The province has introduced legislation that aims to modernize how ag producers can handle organic waste material.--CP FILE PHOTO
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
Alberta’s government has introduced legislation to enhance clarity surrounding organic waste in the agricultural industry, with the aim of inviting the budding biogas industry into the province.
Bill 44, if passed, would update the Agricultural Operation Practices Act, which provides rules and standards for all agricultural operations that handle manure and organic materials.
Currently, said RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, this Act lacks clarity on how organic material can be managed, which has caused uncertainty for agricultural operations regarding storing and using digestate generated from manure.
As it stands digestate is regulated through a memorandum of understanding, says Sigurdson, but “as more anaerobic bio digesters come online. Alberta needs to ensure there is regular regulatory clarity, flexibility and opportunity to manage organic waste, including digestate, to provide investor confidence.”
The additions to the Agricultural Operation Practices Act would allow organic waste from the agricultural sector to be diverted to biogas plants.
Three sectors – farmers, ranchers and agri-processors – produce 3.4 million tonnes of organic waste annually, mostly from livestock manure and food processing, says the province. Those sectors are seeking from government more more economical and efficient ways of managing the waste.
Biogas can be used for heating, or turned into electricity, and the byproducts can be used as a soil amendment, which the proposed legislation addresses. Additions to the Act would allow producers to store and use digestate, the material remaining from the biogas conversion process, on their farms as supplements to synthetic fertilizer.
“Alberta farmers and ranchers work hard to put good food on tables here at home and around the world,” said Sigurdson. “Updates to this act would provide access to additional nutrient sources to grow crops. With access to abundant organic material near livestock operations, Alberta will continue to be seen as an attractive place for investment for the biogas industry. Changes would provide this emerging industry with regulatory certainty to do business, creating good jobs in rural Alberta.”
