World’s first GreenShed opens its doors

_{Professor Carol-Anne Duthie at GreenShed's grand opening at Easter Howgate farm near Edinburgh}

A world-first circular farming system which uses cattle waste to power a shed and grow indoor crops has opened its doors for the first time.

More than 80 members of the beef industry attended the opening of GreenShed at Easter Howgate, an SRUC research farm near Edinburgh.

Martin Kennedy, President of National Farmers Union Scotland, and Kate Rowell, Chair of Quality Meat Scotland, were among the invited guests to enjoy a tour of the new facility.

Funded by the UK Government as part of Phase 2 of the Direct Air Capture and Greenhouse Gas Removal Programme, GreenShed is seen as an important step in the road towards net zero.

It also received funding from the Scottish Government in its feasibility stage.

The event, which was attended by industry representatives from across the supply chain as well as representatives from the UK and Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council, also included tours of GreenCow and GreenSheep.

Sascha Grierson from SAC Consulting then chaired an insightful panel session on the Carbon Story of Beef which included Professor Steven Thomson from SRUC, Seamus Murphy from SAC Consulting and Julian Bell from AgreCalc, as well as Lisa Hislop from NFUS and Amanda Watson from Morrisons.

Professor Carol-Anne Duthie, who leads the GreenShed project, said: “Beef farming is facing greater pressure than ever before to reduce its environmental impact while also maintaining or increasing productivity as well as improving its broader sustainability.

“The GreenShed consortium offers a blueprint for the future of low-carbon circular beef farming. It’s a brilliant example of innovative collaboration between research and industry and we were delighted with the levels of engagement on the day.”

Led by SRUC, the other GreenShed partners are the University of Strathclyde, Galebreaker, UKAgriTech Centre, No Pollution Industrial Systems, Organic Power Ireland, Saturn Bioponics and N2 Applied.

Learn more about the GreenShed project on its dedicated webpage. 

Posted by SRUC on 10/09/2024