A delegation of farmers is set to meet the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) next week to raise concerns over the use of distillery byproducts in renewable energy plants.
The meeting, which takes place in Edinburgh on Tuesday, follows a number of farmers hitting out at the use of distillery byproducts, such as draff and pot ale syrup, in biomass and anaerobic digestion (AD) plants.
The farmers claim energy plants are using up vital supplies of animal feed, making them more expensive to buy and in many cases impossible to source.
Glenlivet farmer Alastair Nairn, who is environment spokesman for the Scottish Tenant Farmers’ Association (STFA), has organised the meeting with SWA acting chief executive Julie Hesketh-Laird. He will be joined by STFA director and Sutherland farmer Angus McCall, fellow Glenlivet farmer Michael Durno and NFU Scotland president Andrew McCornick.
“We are asking for guarantees that there’s going to be adequate supplies of distillery byproducts available to the industry. There’s no guarantee at the moment,” said Mr Nairn.
“There’s no doubt that it’s a crisis for the livestock sector. We believe this situation will only get worse as more AD and biomass plants are developed throughout Scotland.”
He said the growth of renewables plants would not only hit the availability of livestock feed but also result in shortage of straw for bedding.