Updates to the Agricultural Operation Practices Act, if passed, would help reduce waste, allow farmers to supplement fertilizer with organic materials and help the province attract job-creating investment. The act and its regulations provide rules and standards for all agricultural operations that handle manure and organic materials. Biodigesters are already operating in the province, and this change will provide certainty for those who store and use biogas production byproducts as a nutrient source to grow crops and encourage investment in biodigester facilities.
“Alberta farmers and ranchers work hard to put good food on tables here at home and around the world. 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.”
Farmers, ranchers and agri-processors produce 3.4 million tonnes of organic waste annually, mainly from livestock manure and food processing. These sectors have asked government for more economical and efficient ways to manage this waste from other farms or agricultural processors.
The act currently lacks clarity on how organic material can be managed. This has led to regulatory uncertainty for agricultural operations regarding storing and using digestate generated from manure.
Additions to the Agricultural Operation Practices Act would allow organic waste from the agricultural sector to be diverted from landfills to biogas plants, which would use it to generate heat and electricity or refine it into renewable natural gas and help support a circular economy.
Currently, this is governed by a memorandum of understanding between Agriculture and Irrigation, Environment and Protected Areas and the Natural Resources Conservation Board. Elevating this memorandum of understanding into legislation will provide the biogas industry with the regulatory certainty needed to continue doing business in Alberta.
Material remaining after the conversion process is called digestate, which farmers could use as a soil amendment. Additions to the act would allow producers to store and use digestate on their farms as supplements to synthetic fertilizer, allowing for a better use of waste for farmers and supporting a sustainable agriculture sector.
"Alberta Beef Producers thanks Minister Sigurdson and the Government of Alberta for supporting innovation in agriculture. These changes remove barriers, create new energy efficient income opportunities and strengthen Alberta’s leadership in both agriculture and energy, benefiting producers, consumers and the province alike."
“Investing in biodigesters is a win-win for both cattle feeders and the environment. These systems allow us to capture methane, reduce our environmental footprint, and turn waste into renewable energy. Biodigesters help us improve efficiency, reduce odour and contribute to Alberta’s energy independence. As cattle feeders, we’re committed to responsible resource management and see biodigesters as a critical tool for advancing sustainability in our industry.”
Quick facts
- The Agricultural Operation Practices Act addresses the location of confined feeding operations, facility construction standards, siting of seasonal feeding and bedding sites, and the management and application of manure.
- The act applies to livestock, including poultry, horses, cattle, sheep, swine, goats, bison, fur-bearing animals and domestic elk and deer. It also applies to operations that use manure as a nutrient source for crops.
- Biogas can be turned into electricity or used for heating.