A trade body for Northern Ireland’s food and drink manufacturers insisted today that a biomass plant run on chicken litter was vital to protect jobs in the poultry industry.

The Northern Ireland Food & Drink Association (NIFDA) has pledged its support for a controversial power plant proposed by Rose Energy for just outside Glenavy, saying it could save the taxpayer millions of pounds.

NIFDA said the 30MW power station proposed by Rose Energy, a consortium including O’Kane Poultry, Moy Park and Glenfarm Holdings, would deal with huge quantities of poultry litter produced in Northern Ireland and also deliver up to a third of the province’s renewable energy obligations by using agricultural biomass as an energy source.

However, it has been the subject of a vigorous campaign by local people who insist it is an inappropriate development so close to Lough Neagh.

The objectors say they are concerned about additional traffic and unpleasant smells.

NIFDA said the plant would help Northern Ireland to comply with new EU rules limiting the amount of agriculture manure which can be spread on farmland. Violating this legislation could cost the tax payer fines of €50,000 a day.

Michael Bell, executive director of NIFDA, the trade body which represents the food and drink manufacturers of Northern Ireland, said the poultry industry is at the heart of the local economy and must be protected from closure.

“The agri-food industry is the heart of the Northern Ireland’s economy, employing around 80,000 people and with an output of over £2.7bn,” he said.

“The poultry industry within Northern Ireland employs over 7,000 people, and it is vital that we develop industry in a sustainable manner. The clean green island is the foundation of our food industry and we will protect and maintain it.”

Mr Bell said that using the poultry bedding as a biomass fuel would offer a viable solution to maintaining our environment as well as providing renewable energy. The planning application is currently under consideration by the Planning Service and hope that a positive decision is reached very soon.”