Poultry farmers call and the CO2 crisis, blanket bog restoration, phosphate pollution on the River Wye

Farming Today

• Episode: Poultry farmers call and the CO2 crisis, blanket bog restoration, phosphate pollution on the River Wye
• Website: Farming Today
• Feed URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qj8q/episodes/downloads.rss
• Duration: 00:13:18
• Published: 2021-09-21 07:00

The poultry industry is predicting food shortages and animal welfare consequences for millions of birds if the carbon dioxide shortage continues. The closure of two fertiliser plants, due to a rise in gas prices, has put added pressure on the food and farming industries. The factories produce CO2 as a by-product, which is used in abattoirs and for processing and packaging. The British Poultry Council is calling on the Government to step in and help prevent serious disruption to food supplies and animal welfare. Some of Wales' rarest wild birds have made what's being described as a 'remarkable' comeback, after farmers and conservationists carried out work designed to fight climate change and flooding in Snowdonia. As part of our week looking at muck, we discuss the problem of phosphate pollution on the River Wye. Natural Resources Wales admitted last December that 60% of the river failed to meet phosphate targets. Phosphates can come from many sources including sewage, water containing detergents, and livestock manure. Farmers have been blamed for these high phosphate levels, particularly poultry farmers in Powys. Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Beatrice Fenton.